Rural healthcare will get a boost following an announcement yesterday when the federal government announced that they will be forgiving eligible family doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners portions of their Canada Student Loans if they work in rural communities.

MP Tony Clement said that in more rural areas such as Parry Sound and Muskoka, providing health services in close proximity to every citizen is a real challenge and that the announcement will also encourage more health care professionals to work in the communities that need them most.

Family doctors and residents in family medicine will be eligible to receive up to $8,000 per year in Canada Student Loan forgiveness to a maximum of $40,000 over five years; nurses and nurse practitioners will be eligible to receive up to $4,000 per year to a maximum of $20,000 over five years.