The government of British Columbia (B.C.) says political instability in the United States is helping to draw American healthcare workers north to Canada, bolstering a health system facing its own staffing challenges.
Since April, B.C. has launched a streamlined credential recognition process for U.S. nurses. So far, 177 nurses have applied to work in the province, with 113 already registered with the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives. However, it’s unclear how many have officially been hired.
Premier David Eby stated that the Trump administration has created a “big opportunity” for B.C. to attract experienced doctors and nurses trained in a healthcare system similar to Canada’s. He emphasized that B.C. respects science, reproductive rights, and universal access to healthcare regardless of income.
In March, B.C. began a recruitment campaign targeting U.S. healthcare workers. Nearly 1,200 doctors, nurses, and other health professionals have shown interest by attending online info sessions or exploring application steps.
“My message to Americans is clear: in B.C., your values will be respected and appreciated,” Eby said.
“What President Trump is losing, B.C. is gaining.”
The province is also working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. to allow U.S.-trained doctors to practice without re-testing or retraining, reducing wait times from 5–8 months down to just six weeks.
In June, B.C. will launch a targeted advertising campaign in the U.S. to recruit even more doctors and nurses.
A shortage of healthcare workers has forced temporary ER closures in rural B.C., and the problem has started to spread to urban areas. Despite the NDP government’s recruitment efforts, the supply of doctors still lags behind population growth.
Since 2023, over 1,000 new family doctors have started practicing in B.C. The province says it has connected around 675,000 residents to a doctor or nurse since 2018, 250,000 of them in just the past year. Still, around 400,000 British Columbians remain registered and waiting for a family doctor in the province’s healthcare system.
