If you
- speak english (+french)
- have a masters degree or higher
- a couple of years of job experience
- are between 21 and 40 years old
You can obtain landed immigrant status in canada independently from a sponsoring employer in the federal independent category. From the US, it takes about 1 year and 1k in fees. After 3 years of living in CDN as a landed immigrant, you can obtain citizenship (I believe the US doesn't want you to 'swear allegiance to a foreign prince' and as such kick you out if you assume a new citzenship other than by birth).
Access to the canadian medical system is a patchwork of provinicial regulations and local fiefdoms. The province is interested to get foreign docs in, the local 'college of physicians and surgeons' is interested to keep them out. Makes for some interesting times for foreign trained docs. As a graduate of a LCME medical school and an ACGME accredited residency, things are pretty straightforward though (except for what McGill grad mentioned with the length of residencies).
If you just want to try out BC, consider doing locums. Contact
http://www.healthmatchbc.org/
They can set you up with a temporary restricted medical registration', a temporary work visa and ship you to some scenic place like '100 mile house' to do locums (or permanent assignments). This won't get you a job in Vancouver with a view on the harbour, but if getting a taste of the canadian medical system and BC in particular is your goal, this might be a way to get it.
