As of December 31, 2025, the expansion of the Canada Student Loan
Forgiveness Program to include dental hygienists working in underserved
rural and remote communities is officially in effect. This milestone
reflects sustained, multi‑year advocacy by CDHA to strengthen access to
preventive oral health care across Canada.
Since 2013, the federal loan forgiveness program has provided relief to
family physicians and nurses working in underserved rural or remote
communities, helping increase access to health services in designated
areas while reducing the federal portion of their student loan debt.
The federal government’s 2024 budget announced the expansion of the
program to dental hygienists, dentists, and other professions to encourage
more health and social services professionals to relocate to rural and
remote communities—areas with significant workforce needs and lower
housing costs than major urban centres. Specifically, the budget outlined
the intent to amend the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act and the
Canada Student Loans Act to permanently expand the program to nine
additional professions, including dental hygienists. The initiative was
costed at $253.8 million over four years, starting in 2025–26, with $84.3
million ongoing.
As part of the regulatory consultation process in early 2025, CDHA highlighted the need for loan forgiveness amounts higher than the proposed up to $15,000 over five years to better reflect the cost of dental hygiene education. At the same time, loan forgiveness can play a role in encouraging health professionals to consider rural and remote practice, but it is only one factor among many personal, professional, and community‑level considerations that influence where people choose to live and work.
As implementation unfolds in 2026, CDHA will continue monitoring progress and advocating for policies that expand access to care in underserved rural and remote communities, helping to carry forward the momentum created by this important program expansion.