A recruiter specializing in hiring healthcare professionals from a small French-speaking community in northeastern Ontario has reported receiving numerous inquiries from doctors in Quebec who are interested in relocating. Melanie Goulet, a coordinator with the Hearst Medical Recruitment Alliance, mentioned that she has scheduled several meetings with Quebec doctors for the upcoming week.
The Quebec doctors are primarily interested in working as locum tenens, temporary physicians who provide services in rural areas for short periods to cover for general practitioners, emergency room physicians, and specialists. This surge in interest follows the approval of Bill 2, a new legislation effective in the coming year that ties doctors’ compensation to performance metrics related to patient numbers on their roster and imposes fines of up to $20,000 per day on doctors who challenge government policies collectively.
Dr. Doug Arnold, a family physician and chief of staff at the Timmins and District Hospital, expressed concerns over the short-sightedness of the legislation and indicated that many physicians nationwide share this sentiment, leading them to consider relocating. Since October 23, over 260 Quebec doctors have applied to work in Ontario with the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
With Timmins requiring more than 30 physicians to address current healthcare needs, recruiters have already been contacted by over a dozen Quebec doctors seeking opportunities in the region. The city’s significant French-speaking population and the demand for healthcare professionals make it an attractive option for Quebec doctors looking to relocate.
Dr. Sarah Newbery, a family physician in Marathon and associate dean of physician and workforce strategy at NOSM University, noted the unprecedented exodus of doctors from Quebec, likening it to a similar trend seen in the United States due to policy changes. She highlighted the shift of American physicians, particularly those specializing in transgender and women’s health, to Ontario.
To practice in Ontario, out-of-province doctors must apply through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and undergo local credentialing if they wish to work in hospitals. The process typically takes a few months, with doctors from select countries such as the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and the US being able to obtain licenses in Ontario relatively quickly.
In Greater Sudbury, efforts are underway to attract physicians from across Canada, although the recruitment officer did not confirm if any Quebec doctors have shown interest. Dr. Pankaj Bhatia, chief of staff at Health Sciences North hospital in Sudbury, highlighted the hospital’s French-language designation, which allows for bilingual care delivery to a large francophone population in the region.
This recruitment drive aims to address physician shortages and enhance healthcare services in northern Ontario, catering to the diverse linguistic needs of the local population.