Re: Turmoil in the United States
Al Mayadeen English
A steady rise in #US-trained nurses moving to #Canada highlights mounting unease within parts of the American healthcare workforce.
https://x.com/MayadeenEnglish/status...60616766038060
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/...r-trump-s-term
Nurse migration to Canada surges under Trump's term
A growing wave of American nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals is relocating to Canada, particularly to British Columbia, where more than 1,000 US-trained nurses have been approved to practice since April.
Many cite Canada’s progressive political climate, welcoming reputation, and universal healthcare system as key attractions. For some, these features stand in sharp contrast to authoritarian tendencies under President Donald Trump, as well as substantial cuts to public health funding, insurance programs, and medical research in the United States.
Frustration also intensified last year when the Trump administration proposed reclassifying nursing as a nonprofessional degree, a move that would have imposed strict federal limits on student loans available to nursing students.
Canada streamlines recruitment
Canadian officials have moved quickly to capitalize on this discontent. Ontario and British Columbia, the country’s two most populous provinces, have simplified licensing procedures for American nurses since President Trump returned to the White House.
British Columbia also launched a $5 million advertising campaign aimed at recruiting nurses from California, Oregon, and Washington state.
"With the chaos and uncertainty happening in the US, we are seizing the opportunity to attract the talent we need," said Josie Osborne, British Columbia’s health minister, in a statement announcing the campaign.
The killing of Pretti
On January 24, federal immigration officers clashed with protesters. During the confrontation, ICU nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot while filming and appearing to shield a woman who had fallen. Video footage showed agents restraining Pretti, seizing his licensed concealed handgun, and then shooting him.
The Trump administration described Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" who intended to kill federal agents. That characterization was disputed by eyewitness videos circulating on social media, sparking widespread outrage, including among nurses and professional organizations that cited the profession’s duty to protect the vulnerable.
Staffing shortages on both sides of the border
Both the United States and Canada face significant nursing shortages. Recent estimates from the Health Resources and Services Administration project that the US will be short roughly 270,000 registered nurses and at least 120,000 licensed practical nurses by 2028.
In Canada, nursing vacancies nearly tripled between 2018 and 2023, reaching close to 42,000 positions, according to a report from the Montreal Economic Institute.
Responding to reports of nurses relocating, the White House pointed to industry data showing an increase in US nurse licensing in 2025. Officials dismissed accounts of migration north as "anecdotes of individuals with severe cases of Trump derangement syndrome."
"The American health care workforce is the finest in the world, and it continues to expand under President Trump," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said.
"Employment opportunities in the American health care system remain robust, with career advancement and pay that far exceed that of other developed nations," Desai added.
Licensing data shows sharp increase
Precise figures on how many American nurses have moved to Canada since President Trump’s return to office remain unclear, as some provinces do not systematically publish such data.
British Columbia, however, has reported a significant jump. Between April 2025, when its expedited licensing pathway took effect, and January, the province approved 1,028 US-trained nurses, according to the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives. By comparison, only 112 US applicants were approved in 2023 and 127 in 2024.
Nursing organizations in Ontario and Alberta, along with the Canadian Nurses Association, also confirmed increased interest from American professionals.
Angela Wignall, CEO of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia, said American nurses once moved north largely for personal reasons. More recently, however, she has encountered individuals expressing fears that the White House’s rhetoric could embolden violence and vigilantism, particularly against families with same-sex couples.
"Some of them were living in fear of the administration, and they shared a sense of relief when crossing the border," Wignall said. "As a Canadian, it's heartbreaking. And also a joy to welcome them."
Vancouver Island as a destination
Vancouver Island, home to roughly 860,000 residents, has gained 64 US-trained nurses since April, including hires at Nanaimo Regional, according to Andrew Leyne, a spokesperson for the regional health authority.
Among them is Susan Fleishman, a Canadian who moved to the United States as a child and spent 23 years working in American emergency rooms before returning to Canada in November.
Fleishman said divisive rhetoric from President Trump had fueled anger and deepened polarization in American society.
"It wasn't an easy move — that's for sure. But I think it's definitely worth it," she said. "I find there is a lot more kindness here. And I think that will keep me here."
Brandy Frye, another veteran ER nurse, relocated to Vancouver Island last year after monitoring Canada’s political landscape, including Mark Carney’s rise to prime minister, a development widely interpreted as a rejection of Trump-style politics.
Frye said her former California hospital had begun removing references to diversity and equity from official documents to align with the Trump administration’s priorities, a change she found troubling.
"It felt like a step against everything I believe in," Frye said. "And I didn't feel like I belonged there anymore."
Grassroots recruitment efforts
For many American nurses now on Vancouver Island, the initial spark came from a viral tourism video.
About a year ago, Tod Maffin, a social media creator and former CBC Radio host, organized a weekend event in Nanaimo aimed at offsetting the economic effects of President Trump’s tariffs. Roughly 350 Americans attended in April.
"A lot of them were health care workers looking for an escape route," Maffin said. "They were there to help support our economy, but also to look into Canada."
Seeing potential, Maffin converted the event website into a recruitment platform and created a Discord channel to assist Americans exploring relocation.
He estimates the initiative helped approximately 35 health care workers move to Vancouver Island. Volunteers in more than 30 other Canadian communities have since replicated the model in hopes of attracting American nurses and doctors to their regions.
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