The Medical Council of Canada has reported a staggering 750% increase in American doctors applying to practice in Canada over the past seven months, with numbers jumping from just 71 to 615 compared to the same period last year. This dramatic exodus comes as Donald Trump regains political influence in the United States.
In Ontario, Canada's most populous province, licensing authorities confirm a significant rise in US physicians seeking Canadian medical licenses, with several openly admitting they're leaving "because of Trump." One such doctor, identified only as Michael to protect his identity, recently relocated his entire family to Canada after practicing medicine in the US his entire life.
Now working at a small-town Canadian hospital, Michael told NPR he fears retaliation if he ever returns to America. "Too many Americans have come to accept violence and cruelty as normal," said the physician, who expressed guilt about leaving but believes he made the right choice. "Being a doctor means caring for the vulnerable, but America feels like a place where people will happily step on the weak without a second thought."
While Canada's universal healthcare system has always attracted some US doctors dissatisfied with America's profit-driven model, the recent surge appears directly tied to political concerns. Canada has responded by streamlining its licensing process, making it easier for American-trained physicians to qualify.
Additional factors driving the exodus include Trump's dismissive comments about Canada, proposed healthcare budget cuts by figures like RFK Jr., and the scaling back of public health funding, particularly for pandemic preparedness. As one Ontario licensing official put it: "When doctors have to choose between their ethics and their country, we're seeing ethics win more often than not."
(Source: Wen Wei Po)
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