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As Canada's healthcare system grapples with a crippling shortage of nurses and doctors, experts are calling on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to take immediate action by increasing Healthcare Express Entry draws. This move is seen as critical to addressing a devastating waitlist crisis that has led to tragic outcomes for countless patients.
A System in Collapse: The Labor Shortage Crisis
Imagine needing urgent medical attention only to be told that your wait for necessary surgery could stretch into months or even longer. For many Canadians, this is not a nightmare but an agonizing reality. In 2022 alone, the Canadian healthcare sector reported a staggering 143,695 job vacancies, with a vacancy rate of 6%—the highest of any industry, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
The nursing profession is particularly hard-hit, with Ontario projected to need 33,200 more nurses by 2032. Nationally, estimates have shown that Canada could face a shortfall of up to 117,000 nurses by 2030, largely due to an aging workforce, pandemic-related burnout, and an increasing population requiring care.
The outcome is dire: wait times for patients are escalating, leading to preventable deaths across the country.
Dying on the Waitlist: The Human Cost
The second component of this crisis is the tragic human toll. A report from SecondStreet.org reveals that over 74,000 Canadians have died on healthcare waitlists since 2018, with a shocking 15,474 of those deaths occurring in the 2023-24 timeframe alone. These statistics not only mark the failures of the system but illustrate the heart-wrenching reality faced by families grappling with loss.
In Nova Scotia, for example, 50 deaths in 2022-23 were potentially linked to hospital delays for critical procedures. Likewise, data from the Fraser Institute indicates that the median wait time from referral to treatment surged to 27.7 weeks in 2024—marking the longest wait in Canadian history, up from just 9.3 weeks in 1993.
Healthcare Express Entry Draws: A Lifeline Left Hanging?
There are solutions on the table, but they remain largely untapped. The Express Entry system, revised in 2023 to include category-based draws aimed specifically at healthcare professionals, has been heralded as a vital tool to alleviate the crisis. These draws allow candidates with at least six months of experience in 35 critical healthcare roles—such as general practitioners, registered nurses, and paramedics—to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
However, the outcomes thus far have been disappointing. Since the first healthcare-specific draw on June 28, 2023, only about 15,850 invitations to apply (ITAs) have been issued through 2024, an insufficient response given the urgent needs of Canada’s healthcare system. Experts argue that the country requires tens of thousands of healthcare workers now—not just a trickle over several years.
The Data Urges Need for More Healthcare Draws
Recent data highlights the insufficient pace of Express Entry draws. With only around 10,000 healthcare workers invited annually through this stream, and a projected shortage in the tens of thousands, the numbers simply don’t add up.
Current statistics reflect the shortfall:
- June 28, 2023: 500 ITAs issued with a minimum CRS score of 476
- July 6, 2023: 1,500 ITAs at 463
- October 26, 2023: 3,600 ITAs at 431
- February 14, 2024: 3,500 ITAs at 422
- July 5, 2024: 3,750 ITAs at 445
- November 20, 2024: 3,000 ITAs at 463
Newcomers in Limbo: Barriers to Saving Lives
The plight of foreign-trained healthcare professionals already in Canada compounds the crisis. Many, like Maria, a nurse from the Philippines, face formidable barriers to practicing their profession. Credential recognition processes can take years and require significant financial investment. Language proficiency poses another challenge, often acting as a barrier to effective patient care and integration into the workforce.
What’s Next? Solutions or Stagnation?
The time for action is now. Canada’s healthcare crisis demands bold solutions. Scaling up Express Entry healthcare draws could significantly increase the number of skilled professionals entering the workforce, addressing critical shortages. Streamlining the credential recognition process for internationally educated healthcare workers and offering language training supported by provincial governments could turbocharge the integration of newcomers into the healthcare system.
As the statistics and personal stories reveal, every day without decisive action leads to preventable suffering and loss. The call to action is clear: IRCC must escalate healthcare draws to avoid further tragedies and fill the gaps that are costing lives.
The clock is ticking, and the responsibility now rests with those who can implement the necessary changes. Will Canada rise to the challenge, or will it continue watching patients suffer in silence? The nation awaits answers, urgently seeking a brighter, healthier future.
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