One cause goes back more than 30 years
Finding a family doctor or a specialist is hard in Canada for several reasons. One of them traces back to the provinces' 1992 decision to cut medical training places.
The 1992 decision
In 1991 the Barer-Stoddart report, commissioned by provincial health officials, was released. In January 1992, provincial health ministers met in Banff and decided to cut medical school enrolment by 10%, cut residency training places by 10%, and recruit fewer foreign-trained graduates.[1]
What the data show
First-year medical school enrolment in Canada fell to 1,577 in 1997. The number of physicians per 100,000 people stayed between 184 and 191 from 1993 to 2006, with no growth for over a decade.[1] Provinces began expanding enrolment again in the early 2000s, and in 2025 the first-year class was 3,949.[2]
| Year | First-year medical students, Canada |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1,577 |
| 2005 | 2,380 |
| 2010 | 2,829 |
| 2025 | 3,949 |
Training a doctor takes years and the population has grown quickly, so expansion shows up with a long delay. CIHI reports 241 physicians per 100,000 people in 2024, 2 fewer than the year before.[3]
International comparison
According to OECD data cited by the Canadian Medical Association, Canada has 2.8 physicians per 1,000 people, ranking 27th among 37 OECD countries.[4]
What BC has done recently
BC's measures include the new SFU medical school, which opens in 2026 and adds medical school places in the province. The province has also lowered barriers for doctors from the US, UK, Australia and some other places to practise in BC.
Timeline
- 1991: the Barer-Stoddart report, commissioned by provincial health officials, is completed.
- January 1992: provincial health ministers meet in Banff and decide to cut medical school and residency places and to recruit fewer foreign-trained graduates.[1]
- 1993-2006: physicians per 100,000 people stay between 184 and 191.[1]
- Early 2000s: provinces begin to expand enrolment again, and first-year numbers rise from then on.[2]
In other words, physician supply stalled for over a decade before catching up, and a doctor must go through medical school and residency before practising independently. Graduates from the expanded classes take time to reach clinics.
A note on physician income
CIHI reports that in 2023-24, physicians in Canada received an average of $383,000 in payments each. This is before tax, and clinic rent and staff wages must still be paid from it, so it is not take-home income.[3]