Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Federation of Medical Students, representing over 6,000 medical students across Canada, is visiting Parliament today. The students are here to discuss their rising debt load. A first year resident in Ontario has an average debt of $158,728.
These debts are stressful and interfere with medical residents' ability to serve Canadians well.
Furthermore, this financial situation prevents some young people from going to medical school, discourages medical students from choosing to specialize in family medicine, and makes it more attractive for new graduates in medicine to practice in the United States to pay off their debts.
As we are facing a doctor shortage crisis in Canada, we should be doing everything we can to support our medical students.
The Canadian Federation of Medical Students is asking the government to take action and provide some relief.
I do not understand why the Minister of Health is refusing to talk about this fundamental issue.