On October 23, 2025, Stephanie Price, Executive Director of FMRAC, appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (HESA) during its study on the Impact of Immigration Policy on Healthcare and Barriers to Integrating Internationally Trained Professionals. 
 
In her testimony, Price highlighted Canada’s ongoing physician shortage and the critical role that internationally trained physicians (ITPs) can play in addressing it. She noted that while Canada’s medical regulatory system must uphold rigorous standards to protect the public, ITPs encounter significant challenges, including navigating the system and the increasing number of pathways to licensure, meeting Canadian requirements, and misalignment between immigration processes and regulatory expectations.
 
She recommended several key improvements: 
 

1. Better pre-immigration information about licensure, certification, and provincial/territorial regulatory differences so ITPs can make informed decisions before moving to Canada. 
2. Stronger navigational supports once in Canada, helping ITPs understand the system, avoid lapses in clinical currency, and offset financial burdens. 
3. Alignment of language requirements between immigration and medical regulators to reduce redundant testing. 
4. Expansion of pathways to demonstrate competence, including more residency positions and greater investment in practice-ready assessment (PRA) programs, which are shorter, cost-effective, and allow direct evaluation of clinical skills. 
5. Comprehensive onboarding for ITPs to help them adapt to Canadian medical practice and culture. 

 
She concluded by stating that Canada can both protect patient safety and improve access to licensure for qualified ITPs.