B.C. Seeks to Recruit U.S. Doctors Amid Trump-Era Health-Care Uncertainty

British Columbia is actively seeking to recruit U.S. doctors as political instability and health-care policy shifts under President Donald Trump create uncertainty for medical professionals south of the border.

Government Expands Efforts to Attract Health-Care Workers

In its throne speech last week, the B.C. government reaffirmed its commitment to address the province’s doctor shortage by attracting U.S.-trained physicians and making it easier for internationally educated professionals to get licensed.

B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said she wants to convince Canadian doctors working in the U.S. to return home, in addition to recruiting foreign-trained health-care workers.

"We need health-care workers. We know how hard they work ... and we'd welcome anybody home," Osborne said Thursday.

The province’s licensing system is also being overhauled, with the new Health Professions and Occupations Act set to streamline credential recognition.

According to the Ministry of Health, from January 2023 to December 2024, a total of 1,607 internationally trained doctors received full or provisional registration in B.C.

The province has also tripled its annual licensing program seats, expanding from 32 to 96 seats per year. Additionally, the fast-tracked licensure policy now allows physicians from other Canadian jurisdictions to get certified in B.C. faster.

Growing Interest from U.S. Physicians

The political climate in the U.S.—including Trump’s recent moves to cut federal health programs and withdraw from the World Health Organization—is driving more American-trained doctors to consider working in Canada, says Jill Croteau, a doctor recruitment specialist in Ontario and board chair of the Canadian Society of Physician Recruitment.

"In the last few weeks, we've had an increase in interest from physicians looking to move into Ontario or return to Canada," Croteau told CBC News.

She noted particular interest from family doctors, obstetricians, and psychiatrists, many of whom are concerned about policy shifts in the U.S.

Challenges in Retaining Health-Care Professionals

Despite the recruitment push, retention remains a challenge, according to BC Nurses' Union President Adriane Gear.

"We know we can recruit people, but the question is, can we retain them?" she said, citing poor working conditions as a key concern.

B.C. currently faces nearly 6,000 nursing vacancies, and while interprovincial trade barriers are being lifted for businesses, Gear argues that red tape in health-care licensing is still slowing down the process for medical professionals looking to relocate to B.C.

"There’s definitely bureaucracy that the B.C. government could work on," she said.

With hundreds of thousands of British Columbians lacking a family doctor and rural ER closures increasing, the success of B.C.'s recruitment efforts could be crucial in stabilizing the province’s strained health-care system.