Canadian Medical Association

Vision

According to its 2024 strategic plan, Impact 2040, the CMA states that its vision is “a vibrant profession and a healthy population.”

The plan outlines goals such as supporting accessible health systems, promoting well-being within the medical profession, and addressing barriers to equitable health outcomes across Canada

Membership

The CMA represents Canadian physicians and medical learners across stages of training and practice. It works with provincial and territorial medical associations and other national organizations on shared policy priorities. At its 2025 AGM, the CMA reported 72,000 readers of CMAJ. and announced plans to simplify categories of membership in order to reduce administrative complexity.

History

Efforts to form a national medical association date back to 1844, when Quebec physician Dr. Joseph Painchaud and colleagues discussed ways to support physicians and their families. There were false starts in attempts to form an association, but soon after Confederation, practicing physicians were successful in developing a national body.

A formal meeting to establish the Canadian Medical Association took place in Quebec City on October 9 to 11, 1867, with 164 physicians attending to discuss medical education and licensure.Sir Charles Tupper, later Prime Minister of Canada, served as the association’s first president.

The CMA Code of Ethics and Professionalism has existed in one form or another since 1868. As recently as 2015 this document was considered by the CMA to be "arguably the most important document produced by the CMA. It has a long and distinguished history of providing ethical guidance to Canada's physicians. The Code is reviewed and updated periodically with the most recent revision being undertaken in 2025 at the direction of the CMA Board.

In its first 25 years, meeting attendance was small. There was a notice of motion in 1894 to disband it and in 1921, the association faced insolvency.

The Montreal Medical Journal became the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 1911.

The CMA played a role in the establishment of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian Medical Protective Association, and the Medical Council of Canada.

The association participated in public health responses to the 1918 Spanish Flu, the 2002 SARS outbreak, and the 2009-10 H1N1 influenza pandemic.

In the 1930s, the CMA contributed funds toward the creation of the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), using proceeds from donations made to a national jubilee fund for King George V’s silver jubilee.

Since the 1950s, the CMA has publicly opposed tobacco use and supported policies restricting tobacco marketing in Canada.

In 1957, the CMA helped develop the Registered Retirement Savings Plan, aimed at improving retirement security for Canadians. It later created MD Financial Management to provide financial services for physicians and their families. The CMA sold it to Scotiabank in 2018 for $2.6 billion, under a 10-year collaboration agreement — a decision that drew both support and criticism within the profession.

In 2018, the CMA withdrew from the World Medical Association (WMA) in protest over plagiarism concerns involving the incoming WMA president’s speech.

On September 18, 2024, the CMA issued an apology for its role and the broader medical profession’s involvement in harms to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in Canada’s health system.

Advocacy and Policy Work

The CMA engages in policy advocacy on health issues affecting Canadians the medical profession. It develops policy positions through consultations with members, stakeholder organizations, and scientific reviews.

Areas of focus have included:

• Reducing physician administrative burden

• Creating national integrated health human resources planning

• Supporting Indigenous health and well-being and working towards reconciliation in health care

• Promoting physical, psychological and cultural safety within health care workplaces

• Combating health misinformation

• Advocating for climate-resilient health systems and environmentally sustainable health care

• Supporting pan-Canadian physician licensure to facilitate mobility across provinces and territories.

• Addressing the balance of public and private care in Canada

• Helping Canadians age with dignity in the community

Medical Assistance in Dying

Following the 2015 Supreme Court of Canada decision that struck down the Criminal Code's absolute prohibition on physician-assisted dying, the CMA developed guiding principles for discussions with members and the federal government. The association contributed to the development of MAID legislation through submissions to federal committees and Health Canada..

The CMA’s policy emphasizes respect for patient dignity and the rights of physicians to act according to their conscience — whether to participate in or decline involvement in MAID.

Drugs: Pharmacare, opioids and cannabis

The CMA supports the goal of ensuring access to medically necessary pharmaceuticals that are safe, effective, and affordable.

It is a member of the Pan-Canadian Collaborative on Education for Improved Opioid Prescribing, which promotes evidence-based prescribing practices.

The association has submitted evidence to parliamentary committees on cannabis policy, identifying health risks and recommending measures to protect children and youth following the Cannabis Act.

Health and technology

The CMA has examined the role of digital technologies in improving access to care, particularly in rural and remote regions in Canada.

In 2019, it joined the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada to form a virtual care task force, which issued reports in 2020 and 2022 on virtual health implementation. In 2024, the CMA collaborated with these partners and  Canada Health Infoway on a report concerning health data interoperability.

Physician health and wellness

The CMA conducts the National Physician Health Survey (NPHS) — a benchmark for physician wellness across Canada. The survey measures rates of burnout, anxiety, depression and other forms of psychological distress among doctors and medical learners. It was conducted in 2017, 2021 and 2025. Preliminary results from the 2025 survey show after the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors are still struggling with excessive workloads, exhaustion and burnout — leading some to reduce clinical hours or consider leaving practice altogether.

Provincial and territorial medical associations

• Doctors of BC
• Alberta Medical Association
• Saskatchewan Medical Association
• Doctors Manitoba
• Ontario Medical Association
• New Brunswick Medical Society
• Doctors Nova Scotia
• Medical Society of PEI
• Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
• Northwest Territories Medical Association
• Yukon Medical Association

Governance

The CMA Board of Directors includes 19 members, representing physicians, residents, medical students, and a lay representative. The board meets four times a year and sets the association’s policy direction.

In 2018, the association launched the CMA Patient Voice, a group of 12 individuals that provide a patient’s perspective to the CMA’s work. The association holds a public annual general meeting to review financial statements and discuss business matters.

The CMA also established at Indigenous Guiding Circle of First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders, experts, Elders and Knowledge Keepers to guide its work in advancing truth, reconciliation and equity in health care for Indigenous Peoples.

Subsidiaries and related organizations

CMA Impact Inc. oversees business and operations aligned with the CMA’s strategic priorities.

The CMA Foundation provides charitable funding to registered Canadian health charities physicians support initiatives.

The CMAJ Group publishes a range of peer-reviewed publications that support physicians and the medical profession.

References

References

1. "About CMAJ {{!}} CMAJ".
2. (May 2023). "CMA Impact 2040: Our Strategy". Canadian Medical Association.
3. https://www.cma.ca/latest-stories/new-brunswick-oncologist-dr-margot-burnell-steps-cma-presidency-2025-agm-highlights
4. Howell, W.B.. (1936). "Men and Books, a review of H.E. MacDermot's History of the Canadian Medical Association, 1867–1921". CMAJ.
5. "Dr. William Marsden". Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society.
6. (2011). "Medical News: Canada – The Canadian Medical Association". JAMA.
7. "The CMA at 125: History of the Canadian Medical Association". CMAJ.
8. "Sir Charles Tupper Award for Political Action".
9. "CMA Annual Report 2025". Canadian Medical Association.
10. "The CMA at 125 – A Historical Overview". CMAJ.
11. "College History". College of Family Physicians of Canada.
12. "Our Story". Medical Council of Canada.
13. "The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada at 75". CMAJ.
14. "College of Family Physicians of Canada at 50". CMAJ.
15. (2018-04-19). "Second Reading of Bill S-248, An Act Respecting National Physicians' Day".
16. "Our History".
17. (1955-03-15). "Canadian Medical Association urges ban on tobacco advertising". Toronto Star.
18. "Scotiabank strikes $2.6-billion deal for MD Financial Management". The Globe and Mail.
19. "Scotiabank's MD deal meets resistance from doctors". The Globe and Mail.
20. "Canadian Medical Association (CMA) resigns from the World Medical Association (WMA)".
21. "Canadian Medical Association Resignation".
22. (2024-09-18). "Canadian Medical Association apologizes for past harms to Indigenous Peoples". The Globe and Mail.
23. "Affiliates, associated societies and observer organizations".
24. "Lobbying Registry – Canadian Medical Association".
25. "Lobbying Registry Summary – British Columbia".
26. "Lobbying Registry Entry – The Influence Journal Foundation".
27. "Supreme Court of Canada {{!}} 35591".
28. "Lobbying Registry – Canadian Medical Association".
29. "Lobbying Registry – Canadian Medical Association".
30. "Carter v. Canada (Attorney General)". Supreme Court of Canada.
31. "Medical Assistance in Dying". Canadian Medical Association.
32. "Pharmaceutical Issues".
33. "What is being done to address the opioid crisis?".
34. "Opioids and the CMA".
35. "The 2017 Canadian Guideline for Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain".
36. "What is being done to...".
37. "Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health".
38. "The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use".
39. Crean, R.D.. (2011). "An evidence based review of acute and long-term effects of cannabis use on executive cognitive function". J Addict Med.
40. "CMA Submission: The Cannabis Act, Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health".
41. ...
42. Canadian Medical Association. "About Us: Who We Are: CMA Board of Directors". Retrieved 2025-07-07.
43. Canadian Medical Association. "CMA Patient Voice: Twelve patient members ready to start work". November 16, 2018.
44. Canadian Medical Association. "About Us: How We Are Governed – Annual General Meeting". Retrieved 2025-07-07.
45. About Us: Who We are. Canadian Medical Association. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
46. About Us: CMA Foundation. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
47. The Cannabis Act, Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health