Peaceful protest in front of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Ottawa on Sep. 20, 2020: Create a path for internationally educated medical specialists
Be the change you wish to see in the world. If we don’t do it, who would? If we don’t do it now, then when?
Great friends of ours in Ottawa are organizing a peaceful protest on September 20th, 2020 in front of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) to ask the Royal College to create a path for foreign trained immigrant specialist to practice in Canada.
They contacted the Royal College about six months ago, and were informed that the RCPSC was working on creating a path for internationally educated medicals specialists. This protest aims to speed up this process and make it happen.
If you are foreign trained immigrant specialist, you are fully aware that your chances of getting licensed to practice medicine in Canada is very slim. On the one hand, there are not any meaningful practice ready programs for specialists who are graduates of most countries. On the other hand, the specialists have a very low chance of acceptance to residency or practice ready programs in family medicine. Their chances of getting a residency position in their own specialty is very low as well because the specialty residency positions for IMGs are scarce and the program directors prefer to train general practitioners, not those who are already a specialist. The healthcare regulatory bodies have not really been concerned about this situation and the long waiting lists for specialists in the last decades either.
If you are concerned about the potential legal consequences of attending this protest, we would like to inform you that the freedom of peaceful assembly is one of the fundamental rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Currently, the organizers of the protest are evaluating the number of people who will be participating. If the number of participants reaches a certain number, the decision to proceed with the protest will be made and a permit will be obtained from the City of Ottawa as well.
If you are a foreign trained specialist living in Ottawa or nearby cities, you should seriously consider attending this peaceful protest. As discussed, the chances that you will be able to practice in Canada is very low. Participation in this legally permitted petition may bring this possibility for you. Do you really have anything to lose by participation in this protest?
If you feel responsible to make this big difference by participating in this peaceful protest, please provide use with your information by Clicking Here. Your information will be kept confidential and will be used for making arrangements with you and informing you of the process of obtaining a permit for the protest. Alternatively, you may express your intention by participating in this Facebook Poll.
If you cannot make it to the protest, but would still like to contribute to our campaign by becoming a member of our society, you may apply here. Alternatively, if you would like to support us without becoming a member, you may provide us with your information by Clicking Here