The federal government is moving to expand student loan forgiveness to include more health care and social service professionals working in rural and remote communities, a measure aimed at addressing critical workforce shortages in underserved areas.
Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon announced Friday that the proposed regulatory changes, now published in the Canada Gazette, would make early childhood educators, dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, midwives, teachers, social workers, psychologists, personal support workers, and physiotherapists eligible for student loan relief.
If implemented, the changes could provide loan forgiveness to an estimated 8,000 additional professionals starting in 2025–26, with up to 19,000 expected to benefit by 2034–35. Over the next decade, the government projects that more than 27,000 professionals could be incentivized to work in rural and remote areas through this initiative.
“Providing student loan relief to health care and social service professionals working in rural and remote communities will not only help improve access to health care in these communities – it will also improve overall health outcomes and add talented workers to our community healthcare networks,” MacKinnon said.
The expansion builds on previous government measures, including a 50% increase to the maximum amount of forgivable Canada Student Loans for doctors and nurses and a broader definition of underserved areas, now covering all rural regions and towns with 30,000 or fewer residents.
Canadians have until March 17, 2025, to submit feedback on the proposed regulations.
