'MD-friendly' immigration bill passes

The Conservative government's controversial immigration bill (Bill C-50) passed in a 120-90 vote in Parliament last night. The Liberals, who oppose the bill, chose to stay away to avoid defeating the bill and bringing down the minority government.

We covered the bill and its implications for international medical graduates (IMGs) in our May issue. The bill aims to fast-track applications from certain skilled workers, including doctors. Critics say it will make it harder for less skilled workers to ever get into the country, even if they have family here.

NRM's Sam Solomon spoke to Dr Joshua Thambiraj, president of the Association of International Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario about the bill last month. Dr Thambiraj warned, "If we bring in more doctors, we will need to look at licensing." Most of the delays in getting IMGs working in Canada are acknowledged to lie with the medical Colleges that issue the licences, not immigration.

Ontario health minister George Smitherman announced last week that the province will introduce legislation this summer to get foreign-trained doctors working faster, partly through provisional licences that will allow them to practise under supervision while they re-train.

"Whatever we do, we have to be assured that we do it in a way that maintains the standard that doesn't put the public at risk," Ontario College registrar Dr Rocco Gerace told the Toronto Star

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