N.B. College of Physicians has received 126 applications from Quebec doctors

New Brunswick has seen an uptick in doctors from Quebec applying to work in the province.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons in New Brunswick says it’s received 126 applications from Quebec doctors since Oct. 1, and has issued 24 licences.

Normally, the college receives three-to-four applications a month from Quebec physicians.

The increase is, in part, due to an ongoing labour dispute in that province over how physicians’ work is governed.

It’s had a positive impact in New Brunswick, specifically for Vitalité Health Network, which covers Francophone communities in the north and southeastern regions of the province.

Between Oct. 27 and Jan. 15, the network said 246 physicians from Quebec made expressions of interest. Of that, 82 doctors participated in an interview, 13 have “completed an exploratory” and seven have accepted a job offer.

According to Dr. Natalie Banville, vice-president of medical affairs, the network has been able to hire a total of 59 new physicians in 2025.

With 18 departures, that net gain is the largest in recent years, Dr. Banville said in a statement.

“The fall of 2025 was also marked by a significant increase in requests for information from physicians established outside the province,” she said.

More interviews are expected over the coming weeks, the network said.

Horizon Health Network has recruited 131 doctors so far this fiscal year, which 66 per cent of its annual recruitment target.

The hope is to recruit 197 by the end of March.

Bill Hogan, health critic for the Opposition Progressive Conservatives, says the local hospital in his riding – Upper River Valley Hospital – is down to just one surgeon.

“They have posted a position for a second surgeon. I think they need to have a third surgeon. Anesthesiology is a big problem. We’re short anesthesiologists right across the board in the province,” Hogan said.

Both Horizon and Vitalité have also posted expressions of interest to see if there are existing suitable spaces that could become future clinics.

“This is an exploratory information-gathering exercise. Several elements remain to be defined, including regional needs, timelines, possible configurations and the evolution of service demand,” a Vitalité spokesperson stated in an email.

Horizon is looking for spaces that range from 5,000 to 15,000 square feet, and is hoping to find space in North Moncton and North Saint John soon.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.