The federal government want to simplify recognition of foreign medical credentials
Jan 31, 2025
Canada’s healthcare system increasingly relies on internationally trained professionals but many immigrants complain that becoming licensed to practice here takes months, if not years, even as different levels of government recognize the need to accelerate the accreditation process.
Some new arrivals say they’re falling through the cracks.
One of them is Palwasha Anwari, a doctor who — despite her 15 years experience in public health in Afghanistan — found it easier to get a job in Egypt than remain in Canada.
Anwari arrived in Thunder Bay, Ont., in February, 2022, months after the Taliban seized Kabul and returned to power. Seeking opportunities that matched her experience, the 44-year-old later moved to Ottawa.
But a fruitless job search has left her “tired, frustrated [and] disappointed,” she said.