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Conservative MP and Shadow Minister for Health Dan Mazier has launched a sharp critique of the Liberal government’s handling of Canada’s healthcare crisis, highlighting a severe shortage of medical professionals and systemic barriers preventing internationally educated health workers from practicing.
In a recent statement, Mazier pointed to a shortfall of over 23,000 family doctors and 28,000 registered nurses, strains exacerbated by bureaucratic hurdles.
Mazier’s comments come amid growing concern over healthcare access, with a February 2024 report from the OurCare Initiative revealing that approximately 6.5 million Canadians—22% of the adult population—lack access to a family doctor.
A 2022 Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) report further confirmed a national shortage of 60,000 registered nurses, projecting a deficit of 117,600 by 2030 if current trends persist.
“Instead of removing the gatekeepers blocking trained doctors and nurses from serving Canadians, the Liberals are flooding a broken healthcare system with out-of-control immigration,” Mazier stated, arguing that this approach, coupled with a lack of planning to increase healthcare capacity, is a “recipe for disaster.”
He called for urgent reforms, including a national testing standard to fast-track licensing for qualified health professionals, similar to the “Blue Seal” proposal championed by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
However, the Liberal government has implemented measures to address these issues, such as the National Nursing Strategy and initiatives by the Medical Council of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada to streamline credential recognition.