'You aren't trapped': 100s of U.S. nurses choose Canada over the U.S. under Trump

"There are so many like-minded people out there. You aren't trapped. You don't have to stay. Health care workers are welcomed with open arms around the world. Justin Miller, a U.S.-trained nurse now working in Canada, describes the migration as part of a broader movement of healthcare professionals seeking better opportunities and alignment with progressive values outside the United States."

"Many nurses have felt the draw of Canada's progressive politics, friendly reputation, and universal health care system, which stands in contrast to what they see as authoritarian policies under Trump along with deep cuts to funding for public health, insurance, and medical research. This reflects the primary motivations driving healthcare workers northward."

"With the chaos and uncertainty happening in the U.S., we are seizing the opportunity to attract the talent we need. Canadian officials acknowledge the strategic advantage of recruiting American healthcare workers during a period of political and policy uncertainty in the United States."

American healthcare workers, particularly nurses, are relocating to Canada in significant numbers, with more than 1,000 U.S.-trained nurses approved to work in British Columbia since April. Families like the Millers are leaving the United States due to concerns about Trump's policies, proposed cuts to public health funding, and the administration's plan to reclassify nursing as a nonprofessional degree, which would restrict student loan access. Canada, facing healthcare worker shortages, has responded by streamlining licensing processes in Ontario and British Columbia and launching recruitment campaigns targeting nurses in western U.S. states. The migration reflects broader anxieties about healthcare policy, political direction, and professional opportunities in the United States.

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