U.S. nurses choosing Canada cite concerns under Trump

More than 1,000 U.S.-trained nurses were approved to work in British Columbia after the province streamlined licensing, and many who moved say political concerns under President Trump influenced their decision.

Several American nurses and health care workers have relocated to Canada, particularly British Columbia, in recent months. The move has been driven in part by concerns about political rhetoric and policy changes under President Trump, and by faster licensing and active recruitment in some Canadian provinces. British Columbia approved more than 1,000 U.S.-trained nurses after it simplified its application process, and some arrivals found work quickly at hospitals such as Nanaimo Regional. A widely publicized fatal shooting involving federal agents in the U.S. was among the incidents some nurses cited as part of their decision to leave. Noted developments: - British Columbia approved 1,028 U.S.-trained nurses from when its streamlined process began in April 2025 through January; approvals were 112 in 2023 and 127 in 2024. - Nanaimo Regional General Hospital hired at least 20 U.S.-trained nurses since April, and Vancouver Island reported gaining dozens of American nurses. - Ontario and British Columbia have eased licensing steps for American nurses, and British Columbia ran a reported $5 million advertising campaign to recruit nurses from U.S. West Coast states. - National and provincial nursing groups in Canada confirmed increased interest from U.S. nurses, while Canadian officials described efforts to address local staffing shortages. - The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration projects substantial nurse shortfalls by 2028, and the White House said U.S. nurse licensing increased in 2025 while calling individual migration accounts anecdotal. Summary: Canada has received an influx of U.S.-trained nurses after some provinces streamlined licensing and launched recruitment efforts, and many nurses interviewed cited political concerns and different health system arrangements as reasons for relocating. The impact includes staff gains for some Canadian hospitals and continued attention to nurse shortages on both sides of the border. Undetermined at this time