Scottish Midwife Blocked in B.C. over English proof issue

A midwife originally from Scotland is facing an unexpected immigration issue in British Columbia after authorities claimed she failed to provide proof of English proficiency, preventing her from continuing her work.

Heather Gilchrist moved to Canada two years ago and completed all necessary steps to practise midwifery. She secured a position in Victoria, where she had been caring for mothers and newborns since September. However, her work came to a sudden stop after she received a notice that her permit had been refused.

According to Gilchrist, the refusal from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada was due to a missing English language proficiency document in her Post-Graduation Work Permit application. She said this was the first communication she received about the issue, despite submitting her application months earlier.

After being notified, Gilchrist quickly submitted the required document online. However, she has not received any response since then and remains unable to return to work. This has created additional pressure on her colleagues, who are now working longer hours to manage patient care in her absence.

The situation is especially concerning as British Columbia is already facing a shortage of healthcare professionals, including midwives and obstetric specialists. Hospitals in some areas have reportedly struggled to handle patient demand, making the loss of even one qualified professional significant.

Gilchrist, who holds a master’s degree in midwifery and is fully accredited by the provincial regulatory body, expressed frustration over the situation. She said the application system did not clearly require her to upload the language document at the time of submission, which led to the oversight.

Officials from IRCC have not commented on her specific case due to privacy rules but acknowledged that improvements are being made to their application system. These changes are expected to include clearer sections for uploading required documents, including language proof.

Meanwhile, the provincial health ministry has reportedly reached out to federal authorities to support Gilchrist’s case. However, due to the delay and expiry of her existing documents, she may now be required to leave Canada and reapply, further complicating her situation.

Gilchrist says she is committed to continuing her work in Canada and wants to return to caring for her patients as soon as possible. The case highlights broader concerns about administrative challenges within immigration processes, especially at a time when healthcare systems are already under pressure.