Call to Action
The federal government must expand the list of professions eligible for student loan forgiveness in rural and remote areas to include registered dietitians.
The Problem
Despite their vital role in healthcare, dietitians are not currently included in Canada’s student loan forgiveness program for professionals working in rural and remote areas. This exclusion creates significant barriers to recruiting and retaining dietitians in communities that need them most.
What is Student Loan Forgiveness?
- Canada’s student loan program is designed to improve post-secondary accessibility, offering interest-free loans, grants, and expanded supports to address cost-of-living pressures and workforce needs.
- In Budget 2024, the government enhanced student loan forgiveness for specific health professions working in rural and remote areas. Previously limited to doctors and nurses, the program now includes a wider range of healthcare and social service professionals—such as dentists, pharmacists, social workers, and physiotherapists—but not dietitians.
- Current student loan benefits include:
- Grants of up to $4,200 per year for full-time students from low-income families.
- Interest-free loans with repayment deferred until graduates earn at least $44,388 annually.
- Improved student rental supports, with updated housing costs reflected in financial need assessments.
Why Dietitians Should Be Included
- Access to extended healthcare services in rural and remote communities remains a significant challenge for over 6 million Canadians. Northern, geographically isolated and small communities often face disproportionate challenges in accessing essential healthcare services, and worse health outcomes than those living in urban areas. Geographic factors coupled with healthcare workforce challenges further exacerbate these ongoing barriers.
- Registered dietitians are the principal providers of nutrition care. Dietitians play a critical role in healthcare by improving physical health and mental well-being and preventing chronic diseases through nutrition. They assess individual needs and provide expert dietary advice to manage and prevent conditions throughout life stages. By bridging nutrition and health, dietitians empower individuals to make informed food choices, leading to improved health outcomes and quality of life.
- As Canada’s rural and remote population expands in some regions, incentivizing dietitians to practice in these underserved communities would increase access to crucial preventative care services and alleviate healthcare system burdens, especially in areas where people do not have reliable access to primary care.
- Indigenous people are more likely to live in rural areas and experience household food insecurity and chronic conditions such as diabetes. Dietitians are trained to demonstrate awareness of Indigenous values related to health and wellness and understand the ongoing impact of colonization, residential schools, intergenerational trauma, and systemic racism on Indigenous peoples in Canada. Dietitians can engage with local communities, and understand traditional knowledge of Indigenous food systems to support Indigenous self-determination in food systems
Our Ask
Expand the Student Loan Forgiveness to include registered dietitians. Doing so will:
- Attract more dietitians to rural and remote communities.
- Support health equity and improve health outcomes in underserved areas.
- Recognize dietitians as essential healthcare providers alongside other health professions.
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