Canada’s deputy prime minister and local members of Parliament (MPs) visited Dal campus this week to showcase their government’s plan to offer loan forgiveness for doctors and nurses working in rural or remote communities.
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, who also serves as Canada’s Minister of Finance, toured simulation labs in the Collaborative Health Education Building and held a post-federal budget announcement in the foyer of the Tupper Medical Building as part of the visit on Tuesday.
Ms. Freeland also took time to chat with Dal medical and nursing students about the new measures to support them and the government’s goal of ensuring Canadians in rural communities get the high-quality health care they deserve.
“Far too many Canadians in rural communities struggle to access the doctor or nurse they need. To help bring more health care workers to the communities that need them most, our government is increasing loan forgiveness for doctors up to $60,000, and for nurses up to $30,000, if they are working in a rural or remote community,” she said.
“This will make it easier for people across Nova Scotia — and across Canada — to get the high-quality care they need close to home and help to strengthen Canada’s world-class public health care system for years to come.”
Canada's deputy prime minister chats with students.
Necessary support
Nursing student Anika Daclan greeted the news with excitement.
“The students and administration at the School of Nursing have been talking about the impact of finances, not only on our education but on our lives as well. You want nurses that are robust and ready to work and to do that, we need to be able to take care of ourselves and that comes with having the necessary support and finances,” said Daclan, who is co-president of the Dalhousie University Nursing Society.
She said while students have questions about the details of the announcement, overall she is excited about this news.
“I think it’ll make a huge difference for a lot of nurses.”
Ms. Freeland was joined during the Dal visit by the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Jaime Battiste, MP for Sydney—Victoria; Lena Diab, MP for Halifax West; Andy Fillmore, MP for Halifax; Darren Fisher, MP for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour. Dal President Deep Saini, Dean of the Faculty of Health Dr. Brenda Merritt, and Director of Nursing Dr. Ruth Martin-Misener were also in attendance. For Fillmore, Fraser, Battiste and Diab, the visit was a return to familiar terriroty as all are Dalhousie alumni.
MPs and the deputy prime minister are pictured in a Dal classroom.
'A significant day'
President Saini said supporting the accessibility of doctors and nurses in rural communities across Canada is critical for ensuring a robust and resilient health-care system.
“Today’s announcement will support the availability of medical and health professionals where they are needed most by investing in students and supporting graduates who choose to make their career in underserved rural and remote communities,” he said.
Dal President Deep Saini speaks at the event.
"This is a significant day that defines the next several years in their careers," he said. "Today's announcement provides an important initiative for graduating students to consider the many rewards of careers in rural and remote areas of Canada."
This measure would build on the government’s commitment, announced last month, to provide an additional one-time, $2 billion top-up to provinces and territories to reduce waitlists and clear the pandemic-driven backlogs of surgeries and other medical procedures.
Sean Fraser and Chrystia Freeland, seen right, receive a tour of a Dal simulation lab.
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