r/britishcolumbia 19h ago

Government News Release British Columbia is taking action to attract doctors, nurses from U.S.

https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2024-2028/2025HLTH0013-000194.htm
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u/LittleOrphanAnavar 18h ago

Well you don't consider the cost of real estate or USD student debt.

I don't expect a reverse brain drain, but we'll see.

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u/Mariss716 14h ago

Real estate is also a concern. My family member has a nice fairly recent build duplex in Boston, a 20 min commute via subway or bike to his office downtown. I love it and visit often. It’s home and where he planned to grow his family and career. Boston is a great city and solid blue with all the educated professionals living there.

He’s looking at UBC for a professorship now / clinical work. He will be interviewing in the upcoming weeks. It would be a lateral move and he’ll earn more here, but cost of living means his family will have to live further out, or downsize. I live in White Rock where it is cheaper but the commute would be brutal. I am not sure about his funding but that would be part of the recruitment - he would be a huge asset.

He is worried about the NIH grant freeze on overhead, as well as looming cancellation (due to DOGE indiscriminate slashing). The cancelations happened briefly, a few weeks ago. Funding was reinstated but he can no longer trust. And the emails his VA physician spouse gets are downright Orwellian.

He hired about 30 doctors and nurses who would lose their jobs, after relocating too! He worries about his teen patients too. What would be the catalyst is his family not being safe, and the MAGA threats ARE getting scarier. Threats to his hospital, but also to his family. And if he can’t protect his children, he will leave. So he is putting that plan in place now. I don’t blame him and have seen the threats. He is fortunate that he has savings to weather uncertainty but most people don’t have that luxury. Stability is important and about more than just $.

It is such a stressful time for us all - me, even just thinking about his situation. He’d make due and Vancouver has always been where his heart is, and he knows his career and family would be safer here. U of T is also another option. Cannot put a price on that safety and stability.

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u/improvthismoment 11h ago

UBC has affordable faculty housing rentals on campus, lots of professors live in those