ITPC

We are writing to call on the Doctors Manitoba to stand in solidarity with its Internationally Trained Physician (ITP) members. As you are likely aware, the B.C. Supreme Court recently ruled that Return of Service (ROS) agreements lack statutory authorization and most importantly, infringe on our constitutional rights. We expect that this decision will have implications across the country, including in Manitoba, where ITP-specific ROS agreements are currently in place.

We are writing to call on the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) to stand in solidarity with its Internationally Trained Physician (ITP) members. As you are likely aware, B.C. Supreme Court recently ruled that Return of Service (ROS) agreements lack statutory authorization and most importantly, infringe on our constitutional rights. We expect that this decision will have implications across the country, including in Saskatchewan, where ITP-specific ROS agreements are curr

We are writing to call on Nova Scotia College of Family Physicians (NSCFP) to stand in solidarity with its Internationally Trained Physician members. As you are likely aware, B.C. Supreme Court recently ruled that Return of Service agreements lack statutory authorization and most importantly, infringe on our constitutional rights. We expect that this decision will have implications across the country, including in Nova Scotia, where ITP-specific ROS agreements are currently

We are writing to call on CFPC to stand in solidarity with its Internationally Trained Physician (ITP) members. As you are likely aware, B.C. Supreme Court recently ruled that Return of Service (ROS) agreements lack statutory authorization and most importantly, infringe on our constitutional rights. We expect that this decision will have implications across the country, wherever ITP-specific ROS agreements are currently in place.

We are writing to express our deep disappointment with the CMA newsletter’s coverage of the B.C. Supreme Court ruling on Return-Of-Service (ROS) obligations for Internationally Trained Physicians (ITPs). The one-sided framing of the ruling, focused primarily on its potential effect on those communities without acknowledging the experiences and perspectives of ITPs who have been subject to this mandatory obligation, is extremely concerning.

We are writing to express our deep disappointment with the joint statement issued on September 21, 2026. Our primary concern is the disconnect between this statement and Doctors of BC’s mandate to represent and advocate for physicians across British Columbia. 31.1% of practicing physicians in BC are ITPs. These physicians are Doctors of BC members and should reasonably expect their professional association to represent their interests when policies directly affecting them are

During April to July 2026, ITPC’s advocacy efforts focused on advancing policy solutions to improve the integration of internationally trained physicians (ITPs) and ITP specialists into Canada's healthcare workforce. Key priorities included addressing primary care workforce shortages, expanding ladder-to-licensure pathways, improving the integration of ITP specialists including dermatologists, raising recency of practice as a major barrier, and strengthening system-level

From January to April 2026, ITPC advanced a coordinated national advocacy strategy focused on reducing systemic barriers faced by internationally trained physicians (ITPs). Throughout this period, ITPC strengthened its role as a key national voice by grounding its advocacy in evidence from its Specialist ITP Report, ensuring that stakeholder engagement, policy discussions, and recommendations were consistently data-driven and reflective of real-world ITP experiences.

Internationally Trained Physicians of Canada (ITPC) welcomes the Government of Ontario’s decision to rescind the eligibility policy introduced on October 8, 2025, which impacted the 2025–2026 CaRMS R-1 residency match cycle across all Ontario programs.

From January to December 2025, Internationally Trained Physicians in Canada (ITPC) advanced sustained, coordinated advocacy at municipal, provincial, and national levels to address systemic barriers faced by internationally trained physicians (ITPs). Advocacy efforts spanned research, policy engagement, public education, legal action, and grassroots mobilization.

Canada’s Ethical Framework for the Recruitment and Retention of Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) was developed to guide ethical and responsible practices in response to global health workforce shortages. Grounded in the WHO Global Code of Practice, the framework outlines principles and voluntary standards to support governments, regulators, employers, and partners in recruiting, integrating, and retaining IEHPs.

ITPC Welcomes Court Intervention on Ontario MOH's Discriminatory Eligibility Policy re: CaRMS 2025-2026 R-1 Match First Iteration

Leadership is measured at inflection points — and Canada is facing one right now. With the CaRMS residency application deadline just two weeks away, Ontario’s decision to restrict Internationally Trained Physicians (ITPs) from the match is not simply a policy adjustment. It is a tipping point. What happens in the coming days will determine the future of thousands of physicians — and the stability of Canada’s healthcare system.

ITPC Director Dr. Therese Bichay speaks at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health on the Impact of Immigration Policy on healthcare and Barriers to Integrating Internationally Trained Physicians.

When the Ontario Minister of Health, Hon. Sylvia Jones, stood in the Legislature on October 21 2025 and declared she was “proud” of the new CaRMS directive. She may have revealed more than she intended. This directive promotes classism as it divides ITPs by level of “Canadian-ness”. It serves up leftovers to immigrant ITPs by only allowing them access to leftover residency spots. It reeks of discrimination. Therefore, we ask, sincerely: What exactly is the Minister proud o

The Ministry’s reference to “Ontario-educated residents” ignores that many immigrant physicians already hold Ontario diplomas, master’s degrees, and PhDs — making “education geography” an unlawful stand-in for national origin.

Today, updates to the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CARMS) for the 2025-2026 cycle were announced. In the first iteration of CARMS, only Canadian ITPs who attended high school in Ontario will be eligible to participate.These changes will result in the exclusion of thousands of immigrant Internationally Trained Physicians (ITPs) from applying for CaRMS in the 1st iteration. This discrimination is unacceptable. Despite being legally Canadian, ITPs are being denied their l

Today, updates to the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CARMS) for the 2025-2026 cycle were announced. In the first iteration of CARMS, only Canadian ITPs who attended high school in Ontario will be eligible to participate.These changes will result in the exclusion of thousands of immigrant Internationally Trained Physicians (ITPs) from applying for CaRMS in the 1st iteration. This discrimination is unacceptable. Despite being legally Canadian, ITPs are being denied their l

We caution against reducing the competence of a doctor to an exam score or the extent to which that exam score surpasses accepted standard.

The ITPO team gathered in Calgary on October 25th and 26th for the "Building Collaboration on Policy and Programs: A National Convening of I