Canada’s Healthcare in Peril: Urgent Immigration Action Required
Canada’s healthcare system is on life support, with thousands of patients dying on waitlists due to an acute shortage of nurses and doctors. The solution? Expanding Healthcare Express Entry draws. But is Canada doing enough to bring in skilled healthcare professionals?
A Healthcare System in Crisis
Imagine needing emergency surgery and being told to wait months—or even years. This isn’t a hypothetical nightmare; it’s a grim reality for thousands of Canadians.
A staggering 143,695 job vacancies plagued Canada’s healthcare sector in 2022, marking a 6% vacancy rate—the highest of any industry, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Ontario alone faces a shortfall of 33,200 nurses by 2032, alongside 50,853 personal support workers.
The situation is dire, and yet, Canada's immigration policies are failing to deliver the workforce needed to prevent further loss of life.
The Human Cost: Deaths on the Waitlist
The statistics are alarming:
- 74,000 Canadians have died on waitlists since 2018 (SecondStreet.org)
- In 2023-24 alone, 15,474 lives were lost due to delays
- 50 deaths in Nova Scotia (2022-23) were linked to postponed critical surgeries
- The median wait time for treatment hit 27.7 weeks in 2024—a stark contrast to 9.3 weeks in 1993 (Fraser Institute)
These aren’t just numbers; they represent families shattered by a failing system.
Healthcare Express Entry Draws: A Missed Opportunity?
The Canadian government introduced Healthcare Express Entry draws in 2023 to attract skilled medical professionals. However, the execution has been underwhelming.
Recent Healthcare Express Entry Draws:
| Date | ITAs Issued | Minimum CRS Score |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2023 | 500 | 476 |
| July 6, 2023 | 1,500 | 463 |
| Oct 26, 2023 | 3,600 | 431 |
| Feb 14, 2024 | 3,500 | 422 |
| July 5, 2024 | 3,750 | 445 |
| Nov 20, 2024 | 3,000 | 463 |
At this pace, Canada is inviting fewer than 10,000 healthcare workers annually—far below the demand. Meanwhile, Ontario alone needs 33,000 nurses by 2032. The math doesn’t add up.
Immigrant Healthcare Workers: Stuck in Limbo
Even when healthcare workers arrive, bureaucratic roadblocks prevent them from practicing.
Common challenges include:
- Credential Recognition:
- Language Barriers:
- Cultural Differences:
- Discrimination:
Foreign degrees often require costly retraining
Many struggle to meet Canada’s high proficiency benchmarks
Newcomers find Canada’s referral-heavy system confusing
Many report feeling unwelcome in the workforce
Canada vs. U.S. Healthcare Immigration: Who’s Doing It Better?
Comparison of Healthcare Immigration Policies
| Factor | Canada (Express Entry) | U.S. (H-1B & EB-3) |
|---|---|---|
| Processing Time | 6-12 months | 3-5 years |
| Annual ITAs/Visa Issuance | ~10,000 healthcare ITAs | 131,000 H-1Bs (all fields) |
| Barriers to Entry | High (credential delays) | Moderate (sponsorship challenges) |
While Canada promises universal healthcare, delays are costing lives. The U.S., despite a privatized system, has faster specialist access and more visa pathways for healthcare workers.
The Urgent Need for More Healthcare Express Entry Draws
The numbers don’t lie:
- Canada’s healthcare system is short 117,000 nurses by 2030
- Over 259,694 foreign-trained healthcare professionals are in Canada but unable to work
- Waitlist deaths continue to climb
Increasing Healthcare Express Entry draws isn’t just an option it’s a necessity. Canada must act now to prevent further loss of life.
Will the government step up, or will Canadians continue to pay the price for inaction?
