In Brief

Doctor influx fails to cure waiting lists

Stephanie Taylor, Interrobang
(Fanshawe College)

LONDON (CUP) — For the first time in more than 30 years, more doctors are choosing to return to practice in Canada than are leaving the country to work elsewhere.

New statistics released by the Canadian Institute of Health Information report that in 2004, 317 physicians returned to Canada, and 262 moved abroad. It marks the first time since 1967 that the scales have tipped in Canada’s favour.

“The . . . notable trend is that Canada’s total number of doctors has kept pace with population growth since the late 1990s,” said Steve Slade, a data consultant for CIHI.

But Slade added that knowing the number of doctors currently practicing in Canada doesn’t mean there are enough doctors.

Health Canada reported that in 2003, over 3.6 million Canadians didn’t have a family doctor. Of those Canadians, 2.4 million hadn’t been looking, but a staggering 1.2 million had been trying to find a family physician and could not.

Wow, there sure are a lot of people …

20,540, to be exact. That is the number of current undergraduate students registered at the University of Manitoba, as of this August.

The University of Manitoba has released statistics showing the number of students attending the University of Manitoba this fall, and — as expected — the numbers are up from last year.

There are 5,149 new students on campus this year, and that includes 3,269 University One students. But while these numbers are up from last year, they are keeping pace with the rapid growth that has characterized the past few years; and, thanks to students taking a collectively lighter course load, high enrolment should not take a toll on class sizes this year as it has in the past.

The number of students returning to university one for another chance to decide on a faculty has also increased, up to 1,904; this represents 34 per cent of university one students.

The number of international students on campus has also increased this year, up 22 per cent to 1,933.

When all students are taken into account, the university has a population of more than 27,000.