Canadian Medical Association

01/04/2026

Today we celebrate National Ribbon Skirt Day, in memory of Isabella Kulak who was shamed for wearing her ribbon skirt to school. Let this day be a reminder that embracing traditional knowledge and dress is integral to cultural pride and that we must always uphold dignity, respect and equality for Indigenous Peoples.

12/29/2025

5.9 million Canadians still don’t have access to a family doctor. That number is down since 2022, but we still have a long way to go.

Every Canadian deserves access to quality care, regardless of gender, income or age. Let’s make it happen in 2026.

12/19/2025

The Canadian Medical Association welcomes the acceptance today of the agreement in principle between the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) and the provincial government. This agreement pauses the implementation of .

Our statement 👇

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) welcomes the acceptance today of the agreement in principle between the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) and the provincial government. This agreement pauses the implementation of Bill 2.

12/15/2025

From battling misinformation to navigating to uniting as a country and preserving public health: this was a challenging year for health care — both in Canada and around the world.

Here’s what we learned from 2025, and how we can move forward to ensure a stronger year ahead.

This was a changing year in health care – in Canada and around the world. Here’s what we learned from 2025 and how we can move forward for better care.

12/11/2025

The CMA is encouraged that the Quebec government and the FMOQ have reached a tentative agreement to suspend Bill 2.

It’s important that politicians work with physicians to implement known solutions to improve access to care. We’ll continue to support Quebec doctors as they assess the deal.

Quebec family doctors have struck a tentative agreement with the province, only weeks before the implementation of controversial reforms that threatened clinic closures and the departure of GPs to other provinces.

12/08/2025

The CMA welcomes today's announcement on new measures to help clear the path for international doctors who want to work in Canada.

Creating a new express entry program for foreign doctors working here temporarily, along with added Provincial Nominee Program spaces is a positive step towards bringing more physicians into Canadian communities faster.

By combining smarter immigration policy with proven licensing approaches, we can help doctors enter practice more quickly, without compromising standards of care.

Our statement ⬇️

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) welcomes Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Minister Lena Diab’s announcement today on new measures to help clear the path for doctors who want to move to Canada.

12/08/2025

The 2025 OurCare survey, conducted by Unity Health Toronto in partnership with the CMA, asked nearly 17K Canadians about their experience navigating the health care system. Results reveal that while access to care is improving, we still have a long way to go.

The fact remains that Canada’s health care system is still vulnerable. Now’s the time to protect the system that serves us, and act on the solutions we know will work.

Access to primary care in Canada is slowly improving, but nearly 6 million Canadians still lack regular access to a primary care professional, according to a new survey. The OurCare Survey 2025 shows that 5.9 million people in Canada are still without reliable access to a regular family doctor, nurs...

12/06/2025

Canada's physicians are calling for action, and the CMA is listening.

During the 2025 President's Tour, Dr. Margot Burnell met with more than 170 physicians across Moncton, Calgary, Hamilton and Victoria to understand the pressures affecting patient care and the profession.

Across each conversation, the message was clear:

🔹 is harming patients, especially when it comes to vaccination.
🔹 Primary care access is at risk, with shortages driving preventable illnesses and moral distress.
🔹 Licensing barriers continue to hold back IMGs, even as communities face urgent workforce needs.
🔹 Government overreach threatens clinical autonomy and the physician-patient relationship.
🔹 and data silos are limiting physicians' ability to delver timely, coordinated care.

These conversations reinforce what's needed to build a stronger, more connected health system — one that enables physicians to do their best work and ensures patients receive timely, high-quality .

Full recap ⤵️

Patients harmed by false health information. Ongoing workforce shortages. Government interference in medical practice.

12/05/2025

CMA members in the Northwest Territories have voted 📣: Dr. Courtney Howard has been elected as the CMA president-elect nominee for 2026-27, subject to approval at the 2026 AGM.

As an ER physician and chair of the Global Climate & Health Alliance, Dr. Howard has become an influential thought leader in planetary health. She was the first woman president of Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and sits on the editorial advisory boards of The Lancet publication: Lancet Planetary Health and the Journal of Climate Change. she was also named to the Maclean’s Power List in 2024 and received a King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025. With 14 years of experience serving Indigenous populations in Yellowknife, Dr. Howard acts from the bedside to the global board room in service of an overarching goal: the long-term well-being of all.

Pending approval at next year’s AGM – Dr. Courtney Howard will serve as president-elect from May 2026 until May 2027, when she will become CMA president for a one-year term.

Dr. Courtney Howard affirmed as the CMA president-elect nominee

12/02/2025

“Sometimes you have to sit around the table where decisions are being made, in order to have the impact you want.”

Past CMA President and current Indigenous Advisor in Residence, Dr. Alika Lafontaine, shares his experience working with the CMA Board of Directors, and how being a CMA board member is a powerful way to translate organizational and personal values, like reconciliation, into real-world outcomes.

From shaping the CMA’s apology to ensuring Indigenous health remains central to CMA policy and priorities, Indigenous leadership is critical to the CMA’s success.

If you want to contribute to improving health care in Canada, this is your opportunity to apply for a CMA leadership position. Deadline for applications is December 29th, 2025.

12/02/2025

Northwest Territories: Want to have your say on who will be the CMA's next president-elect? The polls are closing tomorrow (December 3) at 2:30 pm MT. This is your chance (CMA members in NWT, including residents and students) to cast your vote.

🗳️ Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Xm959l

11/26/2025

Health care contributes nearly 5% of Canada's emissions, and some tests, treatments and procedures can add to this footprint without improving patient care. How can clinicians bring into discussions with their patients, while supporting shared decision making?

Join CMA & Choosing Wisely Canada for the final Climate Rounds discussion of 2025, where experts will explore how to navigate these complex conversations in everyday clinical settings.

Register here: loom.ly/z9vnLXU