The shifting landscape of immigration policy in Canada: Implications for health human resources

Abstract

For many years, Canada has relied on international migration to compensate for cyclical shortages in its skilled labour force. This paper reports on recent changes in Canadian immigration policy, namely, the introduction of new immigration programs focused on skilled workers, along with the implementation of domestic mobility agreements. With specific reference to the case of nursing, the paper highlights the necessity for integrated policy across multiple government levels and stakeholder groups, as well as the need to promote the development of evidence-based policy in the fields of immigration and health human resources.