International Medical Graduates in Canada: Courting Challenges to Post-Graduate Residency Training

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are physicians who have completed medical school abroad, regardless of their legal status in Canada. Two current legal cases highlight the ongoing interest in IMGs' access to residency positions in Canada. In Ontario, immigrant IMGs have challenged changes to legislation and policy that limit access to residency positions for non-Ontarian IMGs. In British Columbia, the Society of Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad is challenging the separate residency streams for international and Canadian medical graduates and return for service requirements for IMGs. In this article, we describe the different groups of IMGs and the pathways to practice in Canada available to them. We summarize the research evidence related to IMG post-graduate credentialling milestones and retention and explore common misconceptions about IMGs raised in the court challenges. Finally, we highlight areas where further research can shed light on IMG workforce policy in Canada.