Question Period Note: Expanding Canada Student Loan Forgiveness - Occupations

A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) news article was published on November 6, 2025 about implementation of the Budget 2024 commitment to extend eligibility for Canada Student Loan (CSL) Forgiveness to ten new occupations, including social workers. In the article, the Canadian Association of Social Workers noted they were hoping to see this commitment reaffirmed in Budget 2025, and they were disappointed that it was not mentioned.

Canada Student Loan forgiveness for family doctors and nurses supports primary health care providers in under-served rural and remote communities.

The Government of Canada has made significant investments in the benefit in 2023 and 2024 by increasing to the value of loan forgiveness as well as expanding the definition of rural and remote areas.

The Government of Canada has also committed to extending this benefit to ten new occupations, including social workers. The first phase of the regulatory process to implement this decision has already taken place.  Work is underway to obtain final regulatory approval and implementation.   

BACKGROUND

The Government of Canada offers Canada Student Loan (CSL) forgiveness to eligible family doctors, residents in family medicine, nurse practitioners, and nurses practicing in underserved rural or remote communities.

Budget 2022 committed to increasing the maximum forgivable amount of CSLs by 50 percent. This was implemented in November 2023, with family doctors and residents in family medicine now eligible to receive up to a maximum of $60,000 in loan forgiveness over five years and nurses and nurse practitioners eligible to receive up to a maximum of $30,000 in loan forgiveness over five years (up from $40,000 and $20,000 respectively).

To further enhance the CSL forgiveness benefit, Budget 2023 committed to expanding the definition of “under-served rural and remote community” to include all communities with a population of 30,000 or less. This came into force in November 2024. With this change, some communities with a population over 30,000 which were previously eligible for the benefit became ineligible. To mitigate the impact on these communities, they will remain eligible until the 2026 Census.

Budget 2024 announced that the CSL forgiveness benefit would be expanded to ten new occupations: Early Childhood Educators, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Pharmacists, Midwives, Teachers, Social Workers, Personal Support Workers, Physiotherapists, and Psychologists.

Regulations were pre-published for comments in February 2025. Nearly 500 comments have been received in response to the draft regulations. Work is currently underway to obtain final regulatory approval and implementation.

The Government of Canada offers Canada Student Loan (CSL) forgiveness to eligible family doctors, residents in family medicine, nurse practitioners, and nurses practicing in underserved rural or remote communities.

Budget 2022 committed to increasing the maximum forgivable amount of CSLs by 50 percent. This was implemented in November 2023, with family doctors and residents in family medicine now eligible to receive up to a maximum of $60,000 in loan forgiveness over five years and nurses and nurse practitioners eligible to receive up to a maximum of $30,000 in loan forgiveness over five years (up from $40,000 and $20,000 respectively).

To further enhance the CSL forgiveness benefit, Budget 2023 committed to expanding the definition of “under-served rural and remote community” to include all communities with a population of 30,000 or less. This came into force in November 2024. With this change, some communities with a population over 30,000 which were previously eligible for the benefit became ineligible. To mitigate the impact on these communities, they will remain eligible until the 2026 Census.

Budget 2024 announced that the CSL forgiveness benefit would be expanded to ten new occupations: Early Childhood Educators, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Pharmacists, Midwives, Teachers, Social Workers, Personal Support Workers, Physiotherapists, and Psychologists.

Regulations were pre-published for comments in February 2025. Nearly 500 comments have been received in response to the draft regulations. Work is currently underway to obtain final regulatory approval and implementation.

Since 2013, the Government of Canada has forgiven a portion of Canada Student Loans (CSL) for eligible family doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners in rural and remote communities as one tool to address the shortage of primary health care providers in these areas.

Recent Budget commitments have brought several enhancements to the benefit: an increase to the maximum forgivable amount by 50 percent, implemented in Fall 2023; and an expansion of the definition of “under-served rural and remote community” to include all communities with populations of 30,000 or less, implemented in fall 2024;

Budget 2024 committed to expanding the list of eligible occupations to include ten additional health care and social services occupations, including social workers. This requires regulatory approval before implementation.

In 2023-24 fiscal year, $27 million of CSLs were forgiven under the CSL forgiveness benefit and 5,700 individuals benefitted from this. “‘We were really, really hoping it would be part of this budget and it was not,’” said Fred Phelps, executive director of the Canadian Association of Social Workers.

‘We're very disappointed.’”

Social Workers ‘ignored’ in federal budget, says national association

“Getting health professionals to move to rural and remote areas can be tough. Working far from major centres can bring challenges in terms of resources, support, and workload. This is why we are helping students and healthcare practitioners pursue their professional careers without being saddled by student debt.” – the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Government of Canada increases reach of Canada Student Loan forgiveness for nurses and doctors in underserved rural and remote communities