Health Committee on Dec. 9th, 2009

Evidence of meeting #50 for Health in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was year.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Study on Health Human Resources

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Nicodeme Mugisho-Demu Vice-President, Calgary, Alberta International Medical Graduates Association

Fleur-Ange Lefebvre Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada

Ian Bowmer Executive Director, Medical Council of Canada

Clerk of the Committee Ms. Christine Holke David

Sandra Banner Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Resident Matching Service

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Patrick Brown Conservative Barrie, ON

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

You said, in response to Judy Wasylycia-Leis, that the number who have passed the exams was 1,600. Do we have any idea of the number who have not written the exams?

I know doctors in my community who can't afford to spend the few thousand dollars to write the exam. Do we have any sense of what those numbers would be across the country?

Why is it so much easier to become integrated into the system in Saskatchewan and Manitoba compared with where I come from in Ontario? We saw percentages at one point in this committee, and the differences between those two provinces and Ontario were quite stark. What would it take to increase that residency?

You talked about capacity issues. What would it take to increase the residency spots to have a better than 4:1 ratio, and where does that responsibility lie?

5:05 p.m.

Executive Director, Medical Council of Canada

Dr. Ian Bowmer

I can give you some numbers, Madam Chair.

At present, about 4,000 people a year are coming through the physician repository. Don't hold me to that exact number, but it's about 4,000. Over the last few years, the number of people writing the Medical Council's evaluating exam, which is the requirement for entering into residency and the minimal requirement for entry into practice, has been dropping off. In previous years, about 3,500 candidates wrote the exam. In 2008, this dropped to 2,800; and in 2009, it dropped a little more.

The numbers are going down from the international medical community. That's the numbers game.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joy Smith

Thank you, Dr. Bowmer.

December 9th, 2009 / 5:10 p.m.

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada

Dr. Fleur-Ange Lefebvre

We have jurisdictions that have a high reliance on IMGs—Saskatchewan and Newfoundland predominantly, and Manitoba also. But for the past two years, Ontario has licensed more IMGs than the outputs of Canadian schools. It's a high-stakes profession. The consequence of error is high, so we can't take chances. That's why the assessment is critical.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joy Smith

Thank you so very much.

I want to thank the witnesses for their patience today and for coming out in this inclement weather.

Before you go, I want to tell everybody that we have on our committee Dr. Kirsty Duncan, who has just won an award for pandemic preparedness from the Chamber of Commerce of India. We're very pleased about that.

Congratulations, Dr. Duncan.

5:10 p.m.

Voices

Hear, hear!

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joy Smith

We'll now go in camera.

Could I ask everyone to leave except for the committee on neurological disorders?

Thank you.

[Proceedings continue in camera]