Editor’s note: This post is sponsored by Global Medical Staffing, a locum tenens agency with a worldwide reach that places U.S. doctors in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Guam, Saipan, the Caribbean, and the United States—and regularly expands into new countries. We’re featuring this piece because Global Medical Staffing has supported hundreds of physicians working locum tenens abroad and their observations closely mirror what we hear from doctors in the Hippocratic Adventures community, offering a realistic, experience-based perspective on what actually matters when considering an international move.
If “disconnect” describes your relationship with medicine, Manitoba, Canada, may be the place to reconnect with yourself, with the reason you practice medicine, and with your place in this beautiful world. Work within reach of the untamed wild, where there are more polar bears than people and the aurora borealis dances in the night sky more often than not. But it may well be the community you serve that makes your experience the most memorable.
Here’s what to expect working as a locum tenens physician in Manitoba and why Canada may be the ideal place for you, far enough to be international but close enough to feel like home.
Why Physicians are looking to Canada
If you’ve been feeling the weight of U.S. healthcare- the documentation burden, the insurance battles, the creeping sense of burnout—Canada has a way of putting things back in perspective.
Here are a few meaningful differences from U.S. practice:
- Less defensive medicine: Decisions are guided by clinical need, not by fear of liability or insurance approval.
- More time with patients: Physicians regularly report feeling like doctors again, listening to and treating patients rather than navigating paperwork.
- No insurance battles: Universal coverage means patients get the care they need, without physicians caught in the middle of a prior-authorization fight.
- Diverse patient populations: Particularly in northern Manitoba, you’ll care for Indigenous communities and expand your clinical perspective in ways that enrich your practice long after the assignment ends.
Dr. Suneel Dhand, a U.S. internal medicine physician who worked locums in Canada, described what struck him most about the experience: The doctors there were far from burned out, and work-life balance was genuinely built into the culture, not just an aspiration on a hospital poster.
Why Manitoba Needs You
According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, approximately 17% of Canadians lack access to a regular family doctor. In Manitoba, that shortage is even more acute with one of the lowest physicians per capita in the country. When patients lack a primary care physician, the burden falls on emergency rooms, but a shortage of emergency medicine doctors is causing longer wait times, frequent ER closures, staff burnout, and worse patient outcomes.
Unfortunately, these hospitals don’t have a locums framework to bridge these gaps. U.S. physicians can fill a genuine gap in care for communities that depend on them.
Currently, Global Medical Staffing has opportunities for emergency medicine physicians in community hospitals in Winnipeg in low-to-moderate acuity settings, great for physicians seeking a manageable pace and real work-life balance. They also have openings in 24/7 emergency departments that serve as primary access points to remote areas in the Thompson region, including Indigenous populations, and offer physicians the chance to make a difference in the lives of people who truly need their care.
What Living in Manitoba is Like
You may have heard that the climate in Manitoba is harsh, but the summers are mild, with average high temperatures in the upper 70s, and ample opportunities for summer recreation. In the winter, you can embrace the cold with snowmobiling, skiing, world-class skating on the Red River Mutual Trail, ice fishing in one of the 100,000 lakes, and polar bear sightseeing on the tundra.
The pace of both medicine and life in Manitoba will give you time to recharge, connect with the friendly communities, and access the expanse of nature. “If you want to practice medicine with purpose, if you want to make a meaningful difference for people who need care the most, Manitoba is the place where you can do that,” says Dr. Jesse Krikorian, family medicine physician.
What Compensation and Benefits Look Like
Pay rates for locum tenens jobs in Canada are typically around 15–25% lower than comparable U.S. rates, but physicians report that four to six weeks of paid time off is standard, and the reduced administrative burden translates into more time to live your life outside work.
According to Dan Felsing, a business development executive with Global Medical Staffing, the cost of living in Canada is lower than in the U.S., and with housing, travel, and transportation often covered by your assignment, your take-home experience can feel very different in practice. For specific compensation details, your Global Medical Staffing recruiter will walk you through the numbers for your specialty and assignment.
Taxes
Anyone providing services in Canada is subject to Canadian tax on that income. Because the U.S.-Canada tax treaty can be complex to interpret, we suggest you consult a tax professional with international experience.
The Nitty-Gritty of an Assignment in Canada
Preparing for an international assignment takes a decent amount of paperwork, but unlike assignments in other countries, Global Medical Staffing can get you on assignment in close to the amount of time it would take to work in another U.S. state. Once you have an offer letter, they can begin the process of getting you ready for the assignment.
Medical Licensing
According to Diane Wright, the director of administrative support for Global Medical Staffing, “A U.S. board-certified physician who meets additional training and certification requirements can now apply to practice independently through full registration. This allows the physician to practice across Manitoba without having to work under supervision.”
Physicians will need basic supporting documents, such as a medical diploma, post-graduate training certificate, and board certification, as well as any other documentation the board requires. Global Medical Staffing will help with the process, and if everything is submitted quickly, it can take as little as three weeks.
Immigration
Foreign-born physicians are integral to Canada’s healthcare system, and measures at both the federal and provincial levels have made it increasingly accessible. Global Medical Staffing will help physicians with the documentation and paperwork needed to obtain the C10 permit to work in Manitoba, as well as visas for any family members traveling with them.
Hospital Credentialing
According to Wright, physicians will need to complete an application, provide license verification and immunization records, and undergo a criminal record check to complete the hospital credentialing process. Final hospital credentials won’t be issued until the physician is registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba. As with everything else in the process, Global Medical Staffing will serve as a liaison to guide physicians through it.
Medical Malpractice
In Canada, doctors working within the government healthcare system receive medical liability protection through the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), a not-for-profit organization that helps with legal assistance and patient compensation associated with medical practice. As locums, physicians will need to include proof of a Canadian bank account to set up the malpractice protection. Global Medical Staffing can help walk you through the process, which shouldn’t take more than two weeks.
Housing and Travel
Global Medical Staffing provides full support in planning both travel and housing for physicians and their families if they choose to bring them along. Housing and travel costs are covered under the locum tenens contract. Dr. Jason Heine, a family medicine physician, says Global Medical makes the process easy. “They arranged housing and visas for my spouse and daughter. My recruiter and team have been such an advocate for me, and I’ve really, really appreciated how they’ve supported me and my family.”
Finding a Job in Manitoba
Locum assignments in Canada can be as short as three months and as long as year, with the option to extend if you find you love the work and life there. If you’re ready to start your Canadian adventure, you can see all current emergency medicine jobs here.
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Tyler Black is the president of Global Medical Staffing with nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare business. He is passionate about the people, doctors, and communities Global Medical Staffing serves and takes pride in creating meaningful experiences for physicians while helping deliver quality healthcare where it’s needed most.
