The paradigm of medical resident duty hours is currently undergoing vast changes, as research has demonstrated the negative effects of sleep deprivation on the wellbeing of both patients and residents alike. These changes began in the United States, where reduced work hour schedules for residents have been implemented within the past decade. However, the effectiveness of these changes has been debated in the literature. In Canada, this issue has only recently come into spotlight. Under the guidance of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a task force was assembled in 2012 with two main objectives: gather all evidence related to resident duty hours, fatigue, and patient safety, and to create a national Canadian consensus on resident duty hours.