Evidence of meeting #36 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was care.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Manager, Public Affairs, Dietitians of Canada
There was a time when dietetic interns made a modest stipend, but now they are not paid and they are still carrying their loans from university.
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
Are they having to pay the loans while they're working their practicum?
Manager, Public Affairs, Dietitians of Canada
Sometimes—it varies according to province.
Conservative
Phil McColeman Conservative Brant, ON
Thank you, Roger, for your generosity.
You're going down the same avenue that I wanted to with the medical students—what the residency is all about and whether they receive income while in residence.
I have a question for the person representing the students. You mentioned that in the future graduates will not find jobs. When is the future? Is it today? Are they not finding jobs today? Is it a year from now, two years, when?
President, Canadian Federation of Medical Students
It depends on who you're talking to and which province you're in. So far we don't have a lot of information at the national level. We have a lot of anecdotal evidence. For example, one of the specialties that's faced with the most job shortages in Canada is orthopedic surgery. So there are many reports of orthopedic surgeons who graduate and can't find jobs. They sub-sub-specialize and become specialists on the tiniest bones in the hands and feet. That makes them less and less employable.
It's certainly happening now. The Ontario Medical Association, in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, made a projection model that was published in 2010. They showed that even in family medicine—these are generalists in Ontario—in 2017 they project an oversupply of family doctors. That is not very far from now.
Speaking for myself, I'm going to start my training in obstetrics and gynecology. In 2012, if I want to work in Ontario, I may not find a job.
Conservative
Phil McColeman Conservative Brant, ON
It's really a good news story that we're graduating enough doctors. In my community just five years ago we were short 21 family physicians in a city of 100,000 people. I think we're still short a couple, but it's good that we're doing this.
So in some ways it's a good news story, and I agree that we have to somehow figure out a way to get better data to correct the distribution situation.
By the way, orthopedic surgeons become politicians on our side of the table.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
We've come to the end of our time.
Thank you very much for appearing before us and sharing your thoughts and comments. We will certainly take them into regard.
With that, we're adjourned.