More doctors and nurses for rural communities
Today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, toured Dalhousie University with medical and nursing students to discuss how Budget 2022 bolsters Canada's public health care system, and how to ensure Canadians in rural communities get the high-quality health care they deserve.
Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable is the government's plan to create jobs and prosperity today, and build a stronger economic future for all Canadians. As the federal government continues to work with provinces and territories on investing in health care, Budget 2022 takes immediate steps to reduce backlogs in surgeries and procedures, to make it easier for Canadians to access the dental and mental health care they deserve, and to continue strengthening our health care system-including in rural communities.
Far too many communities-including many in Nova Scotia-still lack the primary health care they need. To bring more doctors and nurses to communities that need them most, Budget 2022 proposes to increase Canada Student Loans forgiveness for those working in underserved rural or remote communities. The government is also undertaking a review to ensure that the definition of rural communities under the program does not leave out communities in need.
This measure would build on the government's commitment, announced last month, to provide an additional one-time, $2billion top-up to provinces and territories to reduce waitlists and clear the pandemic-driven backlogs of surgeries and other medical procedures.
