Canada’s rural health workforce is in crisis, and urgent action is needed. Across the country, rural physicians are in short supply, emergency departments are closing, and more people living in rural, remote and Indigenous communities are finding themselves without access to a family doctor.
The Caring for Canadians report has identified a nationwide shortage of 23,000 family doctors, with the most severe shortages in rural and remote areas. While federal, provincial and territorial ministers have acknowledged the need to act, words are not enough—we need a clear and coordinated plan.
The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) is calling on the federal
government to adopt a national rural health human resource strategy to address this growing crisis. This plan must include:
• A well-funded national strategy, led by a rural health commissioner, to support rural physicians and health care teams
• Pan-Canadian licensure, so doctors can work more easily across provinces and territories
• Streamlined licensing pathways for internationally trained physicians
• Permanent funding for the National Advanced Skills and Training Program for Rural Practice, to equip doctors with the skills they need to meet evolving community health needs
Canadians in rural and remote areas are worried about their health, and that of
their loved ones. We need leadership that ensures access to high-quality, comprehensive health care—close to home.
Jennifer Barr, Chief Operating Officer
Society of Rural Physicians of Canada,
Shawville
Ed.
Published in the Pontiac Journal on April 9, 2025.
