B.C. aims to poach U.S. doctors and nurses by highlighting 'uncertainty and chaos' south of the border

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/doctors-recruitment-1.7480911

B.C. aims to poach U.S. doctors and nurses by highlighting 'uncertainty and chaos' south of the border

Andrew Kurjata · CBC News · Posted: Mar 11, 2025 3:30 PM PDT | Last Updated: March 11

British Columbia has turned its eye toward luring doctors and nurses from the United States to move north in what Health Minister Josie Osborne is calling an "unprecedented" recruitment opportunity.

Osborne says the province is changing its licensing rules so U.S.-trained doctors can begin practising in B.C. right away, without any need for further assessment, exams or training.

She said there will be a similar scale-back of the barriers facing U.S.-trained nurses and that a marketing campaign will be unveiled in Washington, Oregon and California within the next few months.

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"Whether it's because their federal government is withdrawing from the World Health Organization, cutting public services or attacking reproductive rights, health professionals in the U.S. have a good reason to be alarmed," she told a news conference.

"This provides an opportunity for B.C. to send a clear message to doctors and nurses who are working in the U.S. Now is the time to come to British Columbia. We will welcome you to our beautiful province where together, we can strengthen public health care … and build healthy communities."

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