Tirytory

I'm surprised too... Were you specifically looking for assistance in moving across? Also I'm sure you are aware but provinces do have different requirements as to what your GP education included.

snoopdawg

Re jobs in AB, I too am amazed, I know they are short of GPs.
I don't know if it's similar to BC though. Health match faxed out our CVs at our request before we made a reccie trip, we were inundated with replies, many not on the Healthmatch website. So maybe they exist but need to be searched for.

Re tax and incorporation, some big changes may be announced at the budget we are warned. I would watch closely.
Being able to incorporate is the single most useful thing we have been able to do, given we can then also have a Family Trust. At present, almost all doctors that I know of are incorporated.
Hopefully not much will change as I'm led to believe it will affect the couple running their own small shop as much as professionals according to my accountant.
Still as a group in our office, we have been doing a bit of plotting to protect ourselves if we can

Gowest

Dan who is mentioned above who runs a site about gps going from uk to Canada has just updated the AB processes and it's changed but there are jobs but it's centralised now. He's also on FB.

rapidoe

Thanks, I went to Calgary last month to meet a few potential employers that had responded positively to emails. The Alberta Health Service has to approve a position for sponsorship now prior to any IMG s being accepted. There are maybe 3 or 4 jobs available in Alberta for IMG's in the past 2-3 months. I was approved by the College of Surg/phys in Alberta for employment but no positions at the moment. Like you say, there is a shortage of docs but IMG's are very restricted for entry presently.
Looking at BC now, and it looks beautiful, but just wondering how does income compare with Alberta. I 've read through earlier posts and it's great to see people doing well after moving. Like others we have 3 kids, so had concerns about schooling, but education seems good in Canada generally.

Gowest

From what I've heard I would have earned more in AB (but that was before the changes in AB) but the lifestyle and weather in BC would suit more.
Money wise I have seen the figures for my new practice (I land in June) and I will earn more than in uk but not by a factor of 3-4 as the various agencies suggest. Tax will be less if incorporated although that could change. Cost of living will be similar apparently.
But it's not a move to make for purely financial reasons because as the okanagan dogs say it will take years to fully recoup costs.

Tirytory

Was there a particular reason for choosing Alberta? Most provinces are pretty desperate for medics, Ontario and BC included. Financially there may be some differences between provinces but I certainly wouldn't choose one province over another for this reason. You will earn enough and the most beneficial aspect of Canada vs the UK the tax benefits of incorporation which you can do Canada wide.

rapidoe

I have a contact in Calgary but that was about it. We like the look of BC and it looks like there are more opportunities there. We are an active family and outdoors life suits us. Canada seems like a great chance for us as GP life in Ireland is following closely on the tails of GP life in UK. I 've had enough of it and would like to move. Did n't need A/E or Gen Surg for Alberta but do need them for BC. I have a FRCS but when I went looking for confirmation of jobs worked in UK, the trusts had no records pre 2005, and the training bodies didn't either, GMC confirmed I worked in the country but again could not confirm I worked in those attachments. For that reason I looked at Alberta and got to the stage where jobs had stalled (maybe temporary). Right now I am waiting on a letter from Ed RCS to confirm my experience and I should be hopefully able to get provisional reg in BC then. GP experience and Membership is already accepted. I think I will have to do another recce again, which will be expensive.

snoopdawg

Wise words!!
There is a difference in pay between provinces BUT this will change according to governments. Ontario was the best but have taken a pay cut- so I don't know where they stand now. They have also gone to a pay per pt/year model I'm led to believe for most GPs
Alberta will have to reduce its costs somehow- maybe stopping its GPs from seeing 80+ a day might help ( I'm sure thats just the "rogue" ones)
Choose the place you want to live- fits your lifestyle.
All I can say is that for us in BC- we have a financial security that we were rapidly losing in the UK. We DID have a good lifestyle in the UK- old Stinky in a very high paying practice- dispensing etc- it was disappearing rapidly and we have regained it and much more by moving here.
Education- its ok. My highly competitive youngest son is disappointed that he is doing stuff at school that his on line contacts in the USA were doing 2 years ago. BUT he will graduate, he'll be able to do what he wants at Uni and going forward no-one will care what he did at school.
Can't remember the last time someone asked me about my A levels!

Gowest

I had similar problems with getting letters from trusts but managed to track down consultants I worked for who hadn't left and who remembered me and a letter from them was acceptable to cpsbc

rapidoe

I had 2 consultants, one older and one younger. The Older guy is gone a few years. The new one left after his ID was used online and implicated in porn or something related. I think they will accept a letter from the College in Edinburgh and I have sent FRCS Cert for source validation (did n't need it for Alberta) so that should sort it. Thanks for replying.

rapidoe

Can anyone advise on Vernon Delta and Trail, looking at these for possible locations. They all look beautiful. Has anyone first hand experience working in these areas?

JonboyE

There is some good stuff on Vernon from a fellow quack here ... http://britishexpats.com/forum/canad...-872272/page2/

snoopdawg

Both pups in Vernon, don't think anyone on this site is a GP in Trail- for that matter I'm not sure anyone on this site at all lives in Trail!! That alone should tell you something! It's renowned for being- stinky!! We briefly looked at it- a millisecond later -rejected it!
Delta- not sure- maybe odd GP there who is active??? I've only driven through- I could see it could have an appeal- maybe not for me but others. It's known in my house for being an amazing place to see snowy owls in the winter.

So what would you like to know about Vernon- both Stinky and I have posted about the town in other threads- see the Kelowna thread at present- and search for Vernon for older ones
http://britishexpats.com/forum/canad...non-bc-801534/
to keep you going!!

Go medically- anything specific?

JonboyE was way too fast for me!!

Stinkypup

As Snoop says, if you value your lungs avoid Trail. The smelter is the dominant industry and it dominates the town. I think that this photo is a reasonable representation

rapidoe

Thanks for that. That's part of the problem seeing everything online, it's not always like being there! By the way this forum is an excellent source of info. I am trying to avoid really small communities where the GP has to do everything. At the moment I do most things, but try and avoid obs/gynae .
I want to set up a vasectomy service so I need a medium sized pop to build that. I read the other link re Kelowna, and sitting here watching the rain and grey skies while typing this, have to say a forest fire is like a million miles away. The drugs I heard also in Calgary are very commonly used particularly weed. The way I see it there are so many positives!