Canada: Health care workers may benefit from immigration changes

30 July 2008

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On 14 March 2008, the Government of Canada introduced changes to the
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act with the objective of reducing the
waiting time for applicants who have the skills Canada needs.

The changes, approved by Parliament on 18 June 2008, give Canada's
immigration minister the authority to issue instructions to immigration
officers which would allow them to fast-track skilled migration applicants
who possess particular skill sets.
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Immigration Minister Diane Finley is currently holding consultations with
provinces, territories and other key stakeholders about the types of
occupations that will be needed in Canada and where there are shortages
within the workplace, both provincially and across Canada as a whole.

The 'Regional Lists of Occupations under Pressure' -- maintained by Human
Resource Social Development Canada (HRSDC) -- shows health occupations in
particular shortage throughout all Canadian provinces and territories,
with a particular need for Registered Nurses.

In addition, HRSDC research entitled 'Looking Ahead: A 10 Year Outlook of
the Canadian Labour Market' found that the health sector had the largest
number of occupations showing signs of shortages at the national level.

Pressures are particularly acute for physicians, therapy and assessment
professionals (e.g. physiotherapists), head nurses and nurse aides. Other
health occupations are also experiencing shortages, such as registered
nursing assistants, audiology technicians, physiotherapy technicians and
medical radiation technologists.

Growth in demand for those occupations has been strong, due to the rising
needs associated with population aging, increases in government funding
for health care, and a high number of people retiring from the workforce.
On the other hand, supply growth in many of these occupations has been
relatively weak.

In some areas, the lack of supply may reflect the effects of earlier
deficit control decisions (including accelerated retirements), declines in
enrollments in related training programs, or delays in graduation due to
lengthening course requirements. In those occupations, new supply from
immigration is also limited as a result of foreign-credentials recognition
issues and strong competition stemming from the overall global demand for
health care workers.

It is expected after the Minister has completed the consultations on
immigration priorities that cases for applicants who meet the point's
requirements in occupations such as Registered Nurses will be fast
tracked.

In addition, the time it will take to gain permanent residence in Canada
will be dramatically reduced in some cases to less than a year -- if the
proposals go ahead as planned.