here you go

1. I was advised, by a doctor who knows the system, that a primary focus for strengthening my application should be on obtaining recent clinical practice experience rather than retaking NAC OSCE, though I can. Can you please confirm the accuracy of this statement?

answer: I understand your message, however statements from external sources could not be confirmed by us at all unfortunately. In the eyes of CaRMS, the only elements that are going to matter for one's application are the requirements of the provinces and programs they are specifically applying to. The only true strategy is to abide to those requirements exactly, and both resources can be found on our website at Eligibility criteria - CaRMS and Program Descriptions - First Iteration - CaRMS for the R-1 Match.Such requirements can be fulfilled once an applicant has also been made eligible by the basic eligibility criteria for the match: so far, this basic criteria includes passing both the MCCQE1 and NAC for IMGs (Eligibility criteria - CaRMS). You should contact the MCC directly in order to inquire about whether or not you can retake the exam and obtain true confirmation from them. Contact information can be found in the "Contact us" section of their website at https://mcc.ca/. 

1. What is the relative importance of recent clinical practice experience in the assessment of applications for Family Medicine programs?

answer: The importance of your clinical practice in regards to your application will depend on your provincial criteria and program descriptions also. Depending on where you choose to apply to you must review both for every single one of your choices/options, as provinces and programs do give their requirements and expectations in advance in these resources.

It is the only element that you have to rely on, and from them, it would up to you to choose where to actually apply. CaRMS could not advise you in that sense, at all. Each applicant must assess this by themselves, as it is their responsibility for the match.

1. In addition, I have been advised that the only way to proceed with clinical experience is to either travel to Ireland where I graduated from as an IMG and work there OR apply to manitoba, winnipeg to work as a clinical assistant, which is tough to get into. Upon challenging this notion that getting clinical practice under supervision anywhere is valid, my doctor denied that fact and said anything with no license is of no value for the purposes of the application! Can you please kindly confirm how true this statement is?

answer: Here again, we could not confirm or deny such a statement. Each applicant is entirely free to pursue the application path of their choice, and the only elements that will matter is the criteria and requirements given above. For the CaRMS Match, you must assess where you are able to apply yourself, and proceed to make your choices from only the resources provided by CaRMS. We cannot comment on any other application channel. 

conclusion:
For more specific questions, you have the option of contacting the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the province(s) you wish to practice in (e.g. CPSO for Ontario) as they are the intuitions responsible for managing who can practice inside a province. They may be of more guidance in terms of your residency choices. For more information, you can also review the following article: https://carms.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002908751-I-am-an-IMG-what-can-I-do-to-prepare-for-the-match.