Question Period Note: Expanding Canada Student Loan Forgiveness - Occupations

In Budget 2024, the Government committed to expanding the list of occupations eligible for Canada Student Loan (CSL) Forgiveness. As of December 31, 2025, dentists, dental hygienists, early childhood educators, midwives, personal support workers, pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, and teachers working in rural or remote communities may qualify for this benefit. Canada Student Loan (CSL) Forgiveness was initially introduced in 2013 as one way to complement existing provincial, territorial and federal efforts to combat shortages of family doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners in rural and remote communities.

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.

In Budget 2024, the Government committed to expanding the list of eligible occupations to include 10 additional health care and social services occupations, including dentists, dental hygienists, early childhood educators, midwives, personal support workers, pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, and teachers. The measure came into effect on December 31, 2025, and is expected to benefit 8,000 borrowers in its first year.

In 2023-24 fiscal year, $27 million of CSLs were forgiven under the CSL Forgiveness benefit and 5,700 individuals benefitted.

Canada Student Loan Forgiveness supports health care and social services 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 also committed to extending this benefit to ten new occupations, including dentists, dental hygienists, early childhood educators, midwives, personal support workers, pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, and teachers. Regulations to implement this decision came into force on December 31, 2025, and eligible borrowers working in the newly added occupations were able to apply starting that day.

Since 2013, the Government of Canada has offered Canada Student Loan (CSL) Forgiveness to eligible family doctors, residents in family medicine, nurse practitioners, and nurses working in underserved rural or remote communities. As of December 31, 2025, the benefit was expanded to also include dentists, dental hygienists, early childhood educators, midwives, personal support workers, pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, and teachers.

In November 2023, the maximum forgivable amount of CSLs was increased by 50 percent. Family doctors and residents in family medicine are now eligible to receive up to a maximum of $60,000 in loan forgiveness over five years and nurses and nurse practitioners are 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, in November 2024, the Government expanded the definition of “under-served rural and remote community” to include all communities with a population of 30,000 or less. 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.

In Budget 2024, the Government announced that the CSL Forgiveness benefit would be expanded to 10 new occupations in order to expand the reach of the benefit to ensure underserved rural and remote communities have access to the care and support they need.

Approved regulations were published and came into force on December 31, 2025. Eligible borrowers working in the newly added occupations were able to apply starting December 31, 2025.

“Canadians across the country deserve and expect reliable health care. That’s just as true in urban cities as it is in rural and remote communities where far too many people face steep barriers to care. Ending that divide requires investing in the people who deliver essential services, no matter where they live.”

ESDC News Release- Helping health care and social service professionals focus on patients, not student loan debt

“It’s uplifting for social workers to be recognized alongside other professions that provide vital health and support services to rural and remote communities,” said Barbara Whitenect, president of the Canadian Association of Social Workers.

Social Work Included in Canada Student Loan Forgiveness

“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