Employment and Social Development Canada
Canada Loan Forgiveness Boosts Rural Health Workers
March 6, 2025 Hawkesbury, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
Canada is growing quickly and suddenly, adding strains to healthcare networks across the country but particularly in rural and remote communities where it is harder to attract and retain health care workers. The Government of Canada is taking steps to rectify that and to guarantee that every Canadian has access to health care, no matter where they live.
That is why Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Steven MacKinnon, at the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital today highlighted changes to Canada Student Loan forgiveness that directly benefit more doctors and nurses working in rural and remote communities across the country.
Hawkesbury nurses and doctors are among the original beneficiaries of loan forgiveness when it was first introduced in 2013, and with these latest changes, even more health care professionals can now benefit.
Health care professionals in over 200 communities are now eligible for Canada Student Loan forgiveness as part of the recent amendment to the definition of “under-served rural or remote community,” which now includes communities with populations of 30,000 or fewer. This change is expected to bring over 900 additional doctors and nurses to work in rural and remote communities over the next 10 years. It is expected to increase the availability of health care services for approximately 1.7 million Canadians living in newly eligible areas.
To continue to deliver the health care and social services that Canadians need now and into the future, work is underway to permanently expand the Canada Student Loan forgiveness benefit to 10 more professions, including early childhood educators, dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, midwives, teachers, social workers, psychologists, personal support workers and physiotherapists. Comments on the proposed regulations are being accepted until March 17, 2025.
This announcement builds on other recent investments, including a 50% increase to the maximum amount of forgivable Canada Student Loans for doctors and nurses who work in under-served rural or remote communities. Family physicians and family medicine residents in these communities are now eligible for up to $60,000 in loan forgiveness over five years, and a nurse or nurse practitioner is eligible for up to $30,000 in loan forgiveness over five years.
Reducing financial barriers to education and training for doctors and nurses working in under-served communities encourages more talented Canadians to pursue a career in health care, particularly in communities that need them most, while also improving access to health care for Canadians across the country.
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2025/03/drawing-more-doctors-and-nurses-to-rural-and-remote-communities-through-canada-student-loan-forgiveness.html