BC Mayor Gets Calls From Across Canada About ‘Crazy’ Plan to Recruit Doctors

Medical devices are seen in an examination room at a health clinic in Calgary on July 14, 2023. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

A British Columbia community’s “out-of-the-box” plan to ease its family doctor shortage by hiring physicians as city employees is sparking interest from across Canada, says Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi.

The mayor said the community has hired its first family doctor for a city-operated medical clinic, and the Victoria-area city is looking to hire seven more under the first-in-Canada pilot project.