There are not enough specialty residency slots in Canada
“Keen to become an emergency-room doctor, Nick Rose knew that with only 27 residency spots available across Canada, he faced fierce competition. To boost his chances, he travelled the country doing unpaid work in five hospitals, hoping to impress.
To keep costs down, the Ottawa medical student slept in gritty youth
hostels and boarding houses, and crashed on the couches of people he
barely knew. He spent $4,500 on airplane flights and food. But his
efforts paid off: He obtained exceptional recommendations from senior
emergency physicians and academics.”