Canadian Provinces Offering Incentives to Healthcare Workers

Canada is always on the lookout for skilled professionals to help build a stronger economy and workforce. Recognizing the urgent need in the healthcare sector, several provinces are now offering financial incentives to attract skilled healthcare workers.

These incentives range from tuition rebates to reimbursement of professional fees and more. Below is a breakdown of what each province is offering.

Manitoba (MB)

Manitoba’s Health Human Resource Action Plan, announced in November 2022, aims to hire 2,000 healthcare providers across the province. The latest incentives include:

• Wellness Incentive: Full-time employees get a one-time $500 boost to their Health Spending Accounts, while part-time employees receive $250. This account helps cover eligible medical expenses.
• Licensure Reimbursement: Manitoba will reimburse professional license or association membership fees for eligible employees for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 years.
• Weekend Premium: Employees working on eligible weekends will receive an $8.00 premium, retroactive to November 18, 2022. This incentive will continue until the next collective agreement is finalized.

These are just a few of the many benefits offered by Manitoba’s program. For more details, you can explore the full program.

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)

Newfoundland and Labrador offer several incentives through different programs for healthcare professionals. One notable program is the Come Home Initiative.

This initiative targets individuals with prior ties to the province, offering financial incentives for committing to work in the province for three to five years. For example:

• $100,000 for a five-year commitment (Physicians)
• $60,000 for a three-year commitment (Nurse Practitioners)
• $50,000 for a three-year commitment (Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Primary Care Paramedics, and Clinical Pharmacists)

The initiative is also open to those without previous connections to NL, though the financial incentives may differ. More information can be found on the program’s website.

Prince Edward Island (PEI)

PEI recently enhanced its Allied Health Professional Recruitment Incentive. This incentive offers up to $10,000 for eligible health professionals in 11 occupations who commit to a one-year full-time equivalent service (1,950 working hours). The eligible occupations include:

• Medical Laboratory Technologists
• Medical Radiation Technologists
• MRI Technologists
• Respiratory Therapists
• Sonographers
• Social Workers
• Pharmacy Technicians
• Pharmacists
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Dental Hygienists

To qualify, candidates must be new to the PEI workforce, not have worked at Health PEI in the last two years, and not have received any previous incentives.

Saskatchewan (SK)

Saskatchewan offers several incentives, including the Graduate Retention Program (GRP), which provides a $20,000 tuition rebate for eligible graduates who live and file taxes in the province.

To qualify, candidates must have graduated from an approved post-secondary program and applied to the GRP within seven years of graduation.

These initiatives show the commitment of Canadian provinces to attract and retain skilled healthcare workers. If you're a healthcare professional considering a move, these programs could provide the support you need to make Canada your new home.