Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced new steps to help foreign-trained doctors get approved to work in Canada more quickly. CTV
Ottawa announced new immigration steps on Monday to help bring more foreign-trained doctors into Canada’s health system. The federal government introduced a new Express Entry category aimed at physicians who trained outside the country but hold Canadian work experience.
“We’ve seen the strain in our emergency rooms, we hear it from families waiting for a doctor, and we feel it from the front-line staff who are stretched thin,” said Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab during a press conference.
“We’ve heard a clear message from patients, provinces and the medical community, we need more hands on deck.”
New Category Targets Doctors With Canadian Experience
The new pathway focuses on international physicians who completed at least one year of full-time work in Canada within the past three years. The government says these doctors play a key role in filling urgent gaps in the health system.
A statement from the immigration department said, “We’re giving these doctors a clear pathway to permanent residence in Canada to fill critical health workforce gaps, while helping support reliable care and a stable health system for Canadians.”
Faster Work Permits and More Intake Spaces
Alongside the new category, Ottawa will introduce faster processing for work permits. Doctors nominated under this route will receive decisions within 14 days.
The government also plans to add 5,000 extra federal admission spots for provinces and territories. These spots will help regions bring in licensed doctors who have job offers waiting.
Provinces often struggle to recruit enough physicians, especially in rural and northern areas. Officials say the reserved spaces give them more flexibility to hire doctors ready to work in their communities.
Signs of Improvement in Primary Care Access
Canada continues to face shortages in family doctors and primary care teams. However, recent data shows slight improvement.
A national survey from 2025 found that about 5.9 million Canadians currently lack access to a primary care provider. Three years earlier, that number stood at 6.5 million.
“These findings confirm what physicians and patients across Canada are experiencing daily,” said Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the Canadian Medical Association. “While we’ve made progress, too many Canadians still face unacceptable barriers to primary care. We can do better. We know the solutions. Access to care for all Canadians is a realistic and achievable goal now.”
The survey also asked Canadians how satisfied they felt with primary care. Only 28 per cent said they were satisfied or very satisfied with how the system works today.
A Step Toward a Stronger Health System
Ottawa says the new measures respond to growing pressure across the country. Many communities report long wait times, limited access to family doctors, and heavy workloads for nurses and physicians.
By creating a faster and more direct immigration path, the federal government hopes to bring more trained professionals into the system and support long-term improvement.
