The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) said it has heard the concerns of doctors across the country who opposed the plans for the third year of training, which was scheduled to begin in 2027.

"We have paused the implementation of the third year in family medicine residency training and will conduct a comprehensive review of this decision," wrote the newly elected CFPC president Dr. Michael Green in a statement.

He added that the college will collaborate with its members, chapters, and partners to address current and future challenges in family medicine together.

More than 91 percent of the 2,775 registered doctors for voting at the CFPC annual membership meeting on November 1 approved the proposal for "the immediate halt of the third year implementation in the family practice program," and the establishment of an independent review committee to provide recommendations, and then make a decision about what should be done, based on the evidence.

For his part, Paul Dillon, a family physician from Sechelt, British Columbia, submitted the proposal along with three others calling for more transparency. He described the decision as a great first step.

He also added: "I look forward to knowing when and if they have released the documents that led to this decision."