Evidence of meeting #11 for Health in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was across.
A video is available from Parliament.
Managing Director, Canada and Deputy Executive Director, World Education Services
It's the same response. We know it's $97 million to reduce barriers, but there are no details around which professions and how this is going to work.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
There are no numbers. When you say details, there are no numbers of how many nurses will actually become licensed.
Managing Director, Canada and Deputy Executive Director, World Education Services
That's correct. There are no numbers in terms of how the funding is going to be distributed and to which professions.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
Thank you.
Dr. Hulko, you graduated from medical school. Is that correct?
International Medical Doctor, Catholic Community Services of York Region
That's right.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
Also, you completed your postgraduate medical training. Is that correct?
International Medical Doctor, Catholic Community Services of York Region
That is correct.
Conservative
International Medical Doctor, Catholic Community Services of York Region
I have 10 years' experience in practising surgery.
Conservative
International Medical Doctor, Catholic Community Services of York Region
No, unfortunately I'm not, because I can't.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
Dr. Hulko, do you agree that there's a disconnect between the immigration system and the health care system in Canada?
International Medical Doctor, Catholic Community Services of York Region
Unfortunately, I have to agree with this.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
Dr. Hulko, according to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, there are 13,000 internationally trained physicians in Canada who are not working as doctors, and you are one of them. The government keeps saying that we need more immigrants to solve our health care problem, but it has failed the immigrant doctors who are already here in Canada, such as yourself.
Do you believe the government should focus on licensing immigrant doctors who are already here in Canada, before adding more people to a broken system?
International Medical Doctor, Catholic Community Services of York Region
I truly believe so, and I honestly believe it would benefit Canada a lot. It would solve a lot of problems in health care. It would benefit Canadians first of all. Yes, for sure, it would be beneficial for everyone. I don't see any reason not to do that.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
Dr. Hulko, we've heard stories—and it has already been referred to—of internationally trained doctors driving taxis and working in factories across Canada. Can you share some of those stories you've heard about doctors in Canada who aren't working in their field?
International Medical Doctor, Catholic Community Services of York Region
Sure. I can share my own experience, which is not so pleasant, in terms of the difference between what I'm capable of doing—what I am trained to do—and what I'm doing now. I'm working, still, in a long-term care centre. I'm helping the residents. I'm taking care of them. I am helping with their appointments in the hospitals, and I assist them. I'm happy to serve, as I said, but at the end of the day, I'm a surgeon. I'm capable of much more, and I can bring much more to Canada.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
Dr. Amiri, do you think the government should focus on licensing immigrant doctors who are already here in Canada, before adding more people to the broken system?
International Medical Doctor, Catholic Community Services of York Region
That's a good question. I think the government should focus on both. For a short-term solution to the health care crisis, I think they should focus on those who are already here and those who already meet the requirements. However, they should also encourage more physicians to come to Canada. Unfortunately, with the new policy and everything that's going on, Canada is getting a bad reputation about how it's welcoming IMGs. We need to be really careful with that. It's quite concerning.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Dan Mazier
Okay. Thank you.
That's the end of my five-minute round.
Next, we have Dr. Eyolfson.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you all for coming.
Ms. Bell, I really appreciated your comments on the value of physiotherapy. That helped me walk after a couple of back injuries and helped facilitate my discharge from St. Paul's Hospital, four days after a coronary bypass, in good enough shape to fly home commercially the next day. Very good, aggressive physiotherapy helped with that.
You talked about the certification. I know this about the medical and the nursing professions, but for a licence to practise physiotherapy, is that provincially administered, or is there a federal licence for physiotherapy?
Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Physiotherapy Association
There is a nationally recognized exam through the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators.
Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Physiotherapy Association
That was previously offered, before the pandemic. Through the pandemic, they made some innovations to that exam, and a new national exam is set to roll out next year. Currently, clinical hours and provincial examinations are in place of that exam, but the intention is for the regulators to go back to a national exam next year.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB
Thank you.
If you are certified to practise in Ontario, do you need to apply for a separate licence to practise physiotherapy in Manitoba?