By Talar Stockton | Yukon News
The Yukon Party wants to see U.S. doctors set up shop in the Yukon — and they want to see the governing Liberals do everything they can to help facilitate that.
In the legislative assembly on March 13, Lake Laberge MLA Brad Cathers presented a motion urging the government to start taking steps to recruit American healthcare workers, including setting up a marketing campaign, allowing U.S.-certified doctors, surgeons and specialists to practice in the territory, and speeding up the licensing of American nurses and other healthcare workers.
As the News has reported, the territory is experiencing a physician shortage. None of the visiting physicians who practiced in the territory in 2024 put down roots, and a surgeon left the territory, stating the “systemic underfunding” of the territory’s surgical services as a reason.
Geraldine Van Bibber, MLA for Porter Creek North, referenced the tumultuous political climate stateside in question period.
“Right now, given what is going on south of the border, there seems to be a unique opportunity to recruit American doctors who wish to leave the U.S.,” said Van Bibber, referencing Nova Scotia’s 2023 move to allow American board-certified physicians to practice in the province without extra certification.
“Will the Government of Yukon take steps to quickly allow U.S. board-certified doctors, surgeons, and specialists to practise in the Yukon?”
The B.C. government is currently crafting a similar approach. According to a March 11 press release, that government is working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. to allow American doctors, certified with the American Board of Medical Specialties to become fully licensed to work in B.C. “without the need for further assessment, examination or training.”
The release also says the province is working with the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives to hasten the process of getting U.S.-registered nurses working in British Columbian healthcare.
With the new process, the B.C. government said that American nurses can apply directly to the college for licensing.
In answering Van Bibber’s question, Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai said that the territorial department of community services is working closely like the health department to recruit healthcare workers.
In his response Pillai also mentioned a collaborative letter of intent about health human resources which signed between the Yukon and Nova Scotia on July 26, 2023.
A press release issued at the time said the two jurisdictions will “share best practices on the recruitment, retention and training of health care providers, including the credentialing and licensing of internationally educated health providers.”
He referenced the territory’s newly-launched navigator system for foreign healthcare workers looking to become licensed and practice in the territory.
Health Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee said the government is working with regulators — as well as provinces, territories and the feds — to find ways to get physicians licensed, including internationally-educated ones.
She also said YG’s goal is a recruiting system geared towards all sorts of internationally-trained healthcare workers, not just Americans.
Outside the legislature, Cathers told reporters he and his party want to see a marketing campaign promoting the Yukon, directly targeted at healthcare workers in the United States.
“There’s a unique opportunity to, to go after them right now, to reach out to those people and to encourage them to come and work here,” Cathers said.
Cathers said YG needs to be competitive with other jurisdictions in terms of offers to attract healthcare workers. He said incentives should target American healthcare workers interested in moving north and providing service to Yukoners.
On March 17, Cathers and Yukon Party leader Currie Dixon asked questions about attracting U.S. healthcare workers in the legislative session, continuing the push from the previous week.
—with files from Dana Hatherly
