Canadian Medical Association

21/07/2025

Health care must be a part of Team Canada thinking.
As federal, provincial and territorial leaders meet in Muskoka this week, the CMA is reminding them that health care is central to Canada's economic and national resilience. The sector employs millions and contributes over $200 billion to our GDP, yet access remains a major challenge.

A new Abacus Data survey shows 89% of Canadians agree that improving is essential to building a stronger country. With patients facing emergency department closures and turning to unreliable online sources, the time for coordinated action is now.

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The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is heading to Muskoka this week to remind Canada’s leaders of the important role health care can play in building a stronger, more resilient nation. “There have been few greater nation-building projects in Canada’s history than health care,” says Dr. Ma...

19/07/2025

When Dr. Allison MacQueen saw an ad for a working vacation in Newfoundland and Labrador where she could deliver care to another community in need, she had no idea it would take 100 hours of red tape to get there.

Read more about Dr. MacQueen’s story, and why breaking down barriers to physician mobility is critical for a country craving better care.

Allison MacQueen stopped counting at 300 emails. The family doctor had more than enough work in Calgary. But when she saw an ad for a working vacation in Newfoundland and Labrador she was intrigued by the opportunity to deliver care to another community in need. And yes, the chance to be near the oc...

12/07/2025

With ERs shutting down, critical staffing shortages and extreme temperatures rising across the country, Canada’s health care system is taking a hit this summer.

The new federal government has promised to tackle many of these issues. We must continue to look to federal leaders to turn promises into tangible policy change; to improve the system we all depend on – for every season of the year.

The health care system faces critical staffing shortages in the summer, while dealing with the impact of extreme temperatures in many parts of the country, as well as rapidly spreading wildfires and air quality concerns.

11/07/2025

In a determined effort to reduce the carbon footprint of Canada’s health care system, over 100 Canadian hospitals have now phased out the use of desflurane, a highly polluting anesthetic gas.

Join us on July 17 to celebrate this significant milestone in Canadian health and hear from expert speakers on how sustainable health care secretariats can accelerate climate action in health systems.

Register now: https://bit.ly/4eKLpDG

07/07/2025

For the first time, Canadian accreditation of medical schools has been “decoupled” from the U.S. What does this mean, and why is it important?

Here’s how the body responsible for Canadian accreditation, which includes members of the medical profession and the public appointed by the CMA, has been working towards a sovereign undergraduate medical school accreditation process — and how standards differ from the U.S.

Canada’s medical school accreditation, CACMS, is splitting from the US LCME, with a focus on social accountability for future physicians.

05/07/2025

Indigenous Peoples are often blamed, minimized or even ignored when seeking health care in Canada.

That’s why Lenard Monkman, winner of the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship, is determined to amplify Indigenous voices and highlight underreported health issues affecting their communities.

Living on Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg’s north end, which has a significant Indigenous population, Lenard Monkman has witnessed the health impacts of centuries of systemic racism, be it the high rates of diabetes affecting family, friends and community members, or more recently, deaths and overd...

04/07/2025

The U.S. is currently facing an exodus of doctors. This is a rare recruitment opportunity that can help close critical gaps in Canada's health workforce and improve access to care for all Canadians.

Here’s how provinces are trying to capitalize on the health care “brain drain” under the Trump administration, and why the CMA is calling for a national strategy to support those recruitment efforts.

Canadian provinces and territories are actively recruiting American doctors and simplifying pathways to work in Canada.

02/07/2025

It's been 10 years since the conclusion of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada, which shed light on the devastating harms of residential schools and their impact on First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. What have we learned since then?

That was the topic of discussion at this recent webinar with Dr. Alika Lafontaine, the CMA’s Indigenous advisor in residence. In addition to unlearning what we’ve learned and upholding our pledge to commit to tangible action, the consensus was clear: there’s still important work ahead, and we need to work together to walk the path of reconciliation.

This month marks 10 years since the conclusion of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada, which shed light on the devastating harms of residential schools and their impact on First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. The TRC heard testimony from more than 6,500 residential school sur...

01/07/2025

Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦
Health care in Canada is more than a system — it's an act of nation-building.

Today, as we come together to reflect and celebrate, we're reminded that a stronger, healthier Canada depends on timely equitable for all Canadians. The CMA is committed to building a future where everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, can get the care they need, when they need it.

27/06/2025

Indigenous Peoples, including patients, care providers and medical students, continue to experience racism in the health care system. Foundational change to medical culture is not only possible, it is critical, and the CMA is committed to seeing it through.

Visit cma.ca/reconciliation to find out more.

25/06/2025

Trust is the foundation of a solid health care system. How can we work together to ensure patients and physicians trust in care?

Join us for in Vancouver from October 17-18 where we’ll host leaders, researchers and educators for discussions on fostering trust to improve physician wellness and patient care.

Register now: https://bit.ly/3ZJJNUs

23/06/2025

The CMA is updating its Code of Ethics and Professionalism to combat anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination.

“Things that might have been viewed as ethical even 20 years ago may be seen as clearly unethical based on today’s practice and clinical standards.” – Dr. Alika Lafontaine, CMA’s Indigenous advisor in residence.

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Experiencing racism and discrimination in the health system is still a troubling reality for many Indigenous Peoples in Canada. “What I’ve heard consistently from Indigenous patients is that their chance of having a negative health care encounter is much higher than it is for the general populat...