GATINEAU, QC, June 28,
2024 /CNW/ - All Canadians deserve to have access to
health care, no matter where they live. Improving access to health
care in rural and remote communities is crucial to ensure Canadians
across the country get the quality care they need.
Today, the Government of Canada
has pre-published proposed changes to the Canada Student
Financial Assistance Regulations and Canada Student Loans
Regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I. These changes
would mean more doctors and nurses working in under-served rural
and remote communities would become eligible for Canada Student
Loans forgiveness.
To help bring more health care workers to the regions that need
them the most, the Government is proposing to amend the definition
of an "under-served rural and remote community" so that doctors and
nurses working in population centres of 30,000 or fewer would be
eligible for Canada Student Loan forgiveness. This measure would
ensure that changes in the eligibility of communities are updated
as new Censuses of Population are released every five years.
This expansion is expected to attract over 900 doctors and
nurses to work in these communities. All Canadians can comment on
the proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette until
July 29.
Through the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program, the
Government is making higher education more affordable and
accessible. Since the fall of 2023, the Government of
Canada has increased the maximum
amount of forgivable Canada Student Loans by 50% for doctors and
nurses who work in under-served rural or remote communities. This
increase means family physicians and family medicine residents 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.
Quote
"Access to health care in rural and remote areas is essential to
building strong communities. Today's changes will give doctors and
nurses the support they need to provide quality care to those in
our communities who need it the most, while attracting new health
professionals to contribute to our growing health care network.
This is ensuring Canadians across the country have access to the
health care they need."
– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official
Languages, Randy Boissonnault
Quick facts
- The Canada Student Financial Assistance (CSFA) Program provides
Canada Student Grants and Canada Student Loans to help
students pay for their post-secondary education.
- Canada Student Loan forgiveness for family doctors, family
medicine residents, nurses and nurse practitioners only applies to
the federal portion of a student loan.
- The CSFA Program works in partnership with 10 provinces
and territories to deliver student financial assistance.
Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut receive alternative payments from the
Government of Canada to administer
their own student financial assistance measures.
- Communities with a population of over 30,000 that are currently
eligible will remain eligible until the 2026 Census.
- Budget 2024 announced the Government of Canada's intention to permanently expand the
reach of Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program to more health
care and social services professionals working in rural and remote
communities. These professions would include early childhood
educators, dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, midwives,
teachers, social workers, psychologists, personal support workers
and physiotherapists. The cost of this measure is estimated to be
$301.7 million over four years,
starting in 2025–26, and $100.1
million ongoing.
- The expansion to the list of occupations eligible for the
Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program is expected to be
implemented starting in 2025–26, subject to legislative and
regulatory approvals.
Associated links
Budget 2024
Canada Student Financial Assistance Regulations
Canada
Student Loans Regulations
Canada Student Financial
Assistance Program
Canada is addressing current and
emerging labour demands in health care
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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada