A survey of current medical literature suggests the Canadian family physician is facing a difficult and uncertain future, especially by his inability to gain economic parity with the specialists and to have his certification recognized as an academic achievement, not just a mere category of membership. Also, there is the ever increasing encroachment upon traditional general practice roles by paramedical health professionals and medical specialists.The source of many of these contentious issues-threatening not only today's family practitioners but also the future of family medicine in Canada-can be found in the training of family practitioners in Canada.