Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, was in Brandon, Manitoba, to highlight Budget 2022 commitments to increase loan forgiveness for nurses and doctors in rural and remote communities.
Due to a shortage of doctors and nurses, far too many rural and remote communities still lack the primary health care they need. As a way to address this shortage, the Government of Canada proposes to provide student loan forgiveness to doctors and nurses who work in underserved rural or remote communities, including in the North.
To help bring more health care workers to the communities that need them most, Budget 2022 proposes to provide over $33 million to increase the maximum amount of forgivable Canada Student Loans by 50%. This will mean up to $30,000 in loan forgiveness for nurses and up to $60,000 in loan forgiveness for doctors who work 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.
Budget 2022 will help make it easier for all Canadians to access the health care they need in a timely manner, while making it more affordable to become a health care provider in these underserved communities.
