Evidence of meeting #12 for Health in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was immigration.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Marjorie Michel Liberal Papineau, QC
I think everywhere in Canada we have challenges. Of course, in remote communities it's even more challenging—
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
Is it a crisis in rural communities, Minister?
Liberal
Marjorie Michel Liberal Papineau, QC
I think the health system is under big pressure all across the country. I would talk also about the northern communities and the remote communities—
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
In crisis—yes, northern and rural.
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
Okay. in crisis.
Minister Michel, according to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, there are at least 13,000 internationally trained doctors currently in Canada but not working as doctors in Canada. Is that number correct?
Liberal
Marjorie Michel Liberal Papineau, QC
If they are sharing it, I feel it's quite correct. I would say also that it's on the provinces and territories also to—
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
It is correct; 13,000 are not working as doctors.
Minister, your briefing note in June said that 198,000 internationally educated health professionals are employed in Canada, but 42%, or 80,000, do not have employment in the medical field. Are those numbers correct?
Greg Orencsak Deputy Minister, Department of Health
I believe the figures are there are 198,000 internationally educated health professionals employed in Canada. About 60% of these individuals were working in the fields they were trained for. It's 60%.
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
Are 60% working in their field, Minister, or not working in their field? I didn't hear, I'm sorry.
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
Thank you.
Minister Diab, we've heard from many internationally trained doctors that they felt cheated by Canada's immigration system. Would the government prioritize licensing those 13,000 trained doctors, as well as many nurses and medical professionals already living within Canada? Would they prioritize those 13,000 trained doctors who are living within Canada before they seek to approve a greater number of immigrant doctors to come into a system that basically isn't working?
A yes-or-no answer please.
Liberal
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
Yes. Would you prioritize them before bringing more in? Obviously, you both agree the system is not working.
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
I wouldn't agree that it's not working. I would agree that we are trying to work faster and better. The immigration system—
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
You would prioritize the 13,000.
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
For those who are coming new, we have strengthened our pre-arrival support services in order for them—
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
You would say it's working, then. The 13,000 are not....
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
Look, I've been in the immigration field now for 12 years provincially and now federally.
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
I've seen things work better than they were working a decade and two years ago.
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
If we can't get the health professionals already in Canada to work in their field, how is adding more—
