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Communities across Canada are facing critical shortages of health workers, prompting the Government of Canada to take action. Last month, Minister Sean Fraser announced changes to Canada’s Express Entry program, the country’s flagship economic immigration program, to address these labor force gaps. Under the new measures, the government can issue invitations to apply for permanent residency to candidates with specific skills, training, or language ability.

Today, Minister Fraser, along with Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, announced the implementation of these new features with a dedicated round of invitations for health workers. This round will invite 500 health professionals, including doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and optometrists, to apply for permanent residency. A second round, inviting 1,500 workers, will take place on July 5. This phased approach ensures a smooth launch of the program.

By focusing on candidates with healthcare expertise, Canada aims to improve access to healthcare services for Canadians and their families. These category-based selection rounds align with Canada’s commitment to welcoming skilled workers and professionals into communities across the country. In addition to the general invitation rounds, category-based selection rounds will continue throughout the year, with more details to be announced soon.

This dedicated round of invitations for health workers complements existing immigration initiatives aimed at filling labor gaps in the healthcare sector. The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, which recently introduced two new streams, provides opportunities for skilled refugees and displaced individuals to continue their careers in Canada. The pilot has seen significant uptake in the healthcare sector, with over 50% of applications received from candidates working in healthcare roles.

Canada has also made changes to Express Entry to facilitate the issuance of permanent resident visas for physicians providing publicly funded medical services. Furthermore, the government has committed $90 million to projects that remove barriers preventing skilled newcomers from gaining work experience in their professions or fields of study.

Between 2017 and 2022, Canada welcomed 21,656 skilled newcomers in health occupations. Today’s announcement reflects Canada’s ongoing efforts to retain and recruit health workers to address the healthcare workforce crisis. The government is working with provinces and territories to streamline foreign credential recognition for internationally educated health professionals and advance labor mobility in the sector. These initiatives are part of the Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians Plan, supported by a budget commitment of nearly $200 billion over 10 years to enhance healthcare services in the country.

Some related facts:

Based on landing data from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) between 2017 and 2022, skilled newcomers to Canada expressed their intention to work in various health occupations. Please note that these estimates are preliminary and subject to change. Here is a breakdown of the intended occupations:

  • Nurses: 10,051 (including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses)
  • Doctors: 4,449 (including 2,013 specialist physicians)
  • Dentists: 2,552
  • Pharmacists: 2,054
  • Physiotherapists (798) and Occupational Therapists (112): 910
  • Optometrists: 156
  • Dietitians and Nutritionists: 218
  • Chiropractors: 13
  • Medical Laboratory Technologists: 410
  • Medical Radiation Technologists: 222
  • Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists: 151
  • Allied Primary Health Practitioners: 171
  • Paramedical Occupations: 56
  • Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists, and Cardiopulmonary Technologists: 88
  • Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists: 155

Express Entry is Canada’s primary application management system for individuals seeking permanent immigration through programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program.

In June 2022, the Government of Canada made changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow for the selection of immigrants based on key attributes that support economic priorities, such as specific work experience or knowledge of French.

On May 31, 2023, Minister Fraser announced the introduction of category-based selection, a new process to welcome skilled newcomers with work experience in priority jobs as permanent residents. The categories were determined through extensive consultations with provincial and territorial partners, stakeholders, and the public, as well as a review of labor market needs. A complete list of eligible jobs for the new categories can be found on the official website.

It is worth noting that immigration plays a significant role in Canada’s labor force growth, addressing labor shortages in key sectors. Under the Canada-Québec Accord, Quebec has the authority to establish its own immigration levels. From 2018 to 2022, admissions under the Federal High-Skilled program accounted for approximately 34% to 40% of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec.

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