Canada's family doctor shortage worsens

Canada is facing a severe and worsening shortage of family doctors, with 5.9 million people lacking a primary care physician. Federal projections indicate the country needs 20,000 more family doctors by 2031, driven by an aging population and a wave of physician retirements. Only 15% of Canadians can now easily get same-day appointments, down from 24% a decade ago, and Canada ranks 29th globally with just 2.4 physicians per thousand people. In response, the government's Express Entry immigration system is targeting international doctors to fill 5,000 spots.