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September 19, 2023
The Elders and Knowledge Keepers Circle (EKKC) provides guidance and advice to the NCIME Executive Committee, Executive Director and Director of Community engagement based on their expertise and experience as an Indigenous Elder/Knowledge Keeper. 
Responding to the BMSAC’s Calls to Action
November 28, 2022
AFMC is working in partnership with The Black Medical Students’ Association of Canada (BMSAC) and the Network for the Advancement of Black Learners (N-ABL) to gather information about how Canada’s 17 Faculties of Medicine are responding to the BMSAC’s Calls to Action released in June of 2020, and to better understand the current national landscape of anti-racism initiatives and support for Black students and learners in medical education. 

Since 2010, the Canadian population has increased by 12% while Canadian admissions to medical school has only increased by 6% during the same timeframe. Statistics Canada reported in 2019 that approximately 4.6 million Canadians did not have regular access to a primary care provider.

Not only are admissions not increasing at the same rate as the Canadian population, but some Canadian medical students are unable to secure a residency position upon graduation. When medical school graduates are unable to secure a residency position, there are delays to them entering practice and providing care to Canadians.  Additional family medicine residency positions, especially in rural and underserved communities, are needed to increase the number of primary care providers available to Canadians.

AFMC presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (HESA) in April as part of the Study on Canada’s Health Workforce. This study is aimed at understanding the current shortages facing the health care workforce in Canada and possible recommended solutions.

AFMC is asking the Government of Canada to work with provincial and territorial governments to increase admissions to medical school to match population growth and ensure the right number of residency positions for the system. This would contribute to an improved long-term strategy that ensures Canadians receive the health care they desperately need.