Four provinces offering incentives to skilled immigrants in healthcare occupations

Canada is always looking to attract skilled workers to strengthen its economy and workforce.

While Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has taken steps to fill urgent shortages such as those in healthcare, several provinces are attempting to attract skilled workers in the healthcare industry using financial incentives.

These include tuition rebates, reimbursement for different fees and more.

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This article will provide a breakdown of some of these incentives, organized by province.

Manitoba (MB)

Originally announced in November 2022, Manitoba’s Health Human Resource Action Plan is a program created to attract and employ 2,000 healthcare providers throughout the province’s healthcare system.

As part of this program, the three latest incentives introduced by the Government of Manitoba include:

• Wellness Incentive: This incentive provides all full-time employees with a one-time increase of $500 in their Health Spending Accounts (in addition to their existing allowances). Part-time employees will receive $250 through the same incentive.

Healthcare Spending Accounts (HSAs) are provided to all eligible Manitoba government employees as a way to help them pay for eligible expenses. According to an online fact sheet published by the government, the province “deposits a pre-determined amount of benefit dollars into [each account, which] can be used to top-off existing benefit maximums, or to pay for any medical expenses you incur which meet the [Canada Revenue Agency’s medical expense credit] requirements.

• Licensure Reimbursement: This incentive will provide eligible employees with reimbursement on any professional license or association membership fees for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 licensure years. To be eligible for this incentive, employees must be working for an included employer, be employed within the applicable licensure years, and be able to provide proof of payment for eligible fees.
• Weekend Premium: This incentive will enable employees who work on eligible weekends to receive an $8.00 premium. The Government of Manitoba notes that this premium is retroactive to November 18, 2022, also adding that this incentive will continue until the next collective agreement is approved.

Note: The incentives above represent only three of more than 10 total benefits available to participants of this Manitoba-based program. Click here for full program details.

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)

Through a variety of different programs, NL provides different healthcare industry workers with incentives ranging from signing bonuses to funding for those opening up their own family practices across the province. One example is the Come Home Initiative.

This initiative is for, among other groups, those who have been educated in NL, performed residency in the province, trained in NL or previously practiced medicine across the province. The province is offering a varying financial incentive for those willing to come back to Newfoundland and Labrador on a “return-in-service” agreement.

In other words, for those with previous ties to the province who are willing to commit to coming back to NL and practicing for three or five years, the province will offer different financial incentives based on their specific occupation. Some examples of this incentive include:

• $100,000 for a five-year return-in-service agreement (Physicians)
• $60,000 for a three-year return-in-service agreement (Nurse Practitioners)
• $50,000 or a three-year return-in-service agreement
  • Registered Nurse
  • Licensed Practical Nurse
  • Primary Care Paramedic
  • Clinical Pharmacist

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Come Home Incentive is also available for those with no previous connection to the province. However, the financial incentive is different than for those with an existing connection to NL. More details on these incentives, and the incentive program as a whole, can be found here.

Prince Edward Island (PEI)

The PEI government has recently increased the incentive for their Allied Health Professional Recruitment Incentive.

This incentive, which is available to eligible health professionals in 11 occupations, provides eligible candidates with up to $10,000 should they commit to a return-in-service agreement that is 1,950 working hours (or a one-year full-time equivalent). Eligible occupations include:

• Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs)
• Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologists
• Respiratory Therapists (RTs)
• Sonographers
• Social Workers
• Pharmacy Technicians
• Pharmacists
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Dental Hygienists

A July 10 press release from the Government of PEI notes that candidates who meet the following criteria may be eligible:

• Be a new candidate to the workforce in PEI
• Not have worked at Health PEI (or another PEI-based employer, either in the public or private sector) within the last two years
• Not have previously received an incentive

Click here for more information.

Saskatchewan (SK)

The province of Saskatchewan offers multiple incentives for healthcare industry students and professionals. One example is the Graduate Retention Program (GRP).

The GRP provides a $20,000 tuition rebate incentive for eligible graduates who live and file an income tax return in SK. Full details are available from the Government of SK here.

GRP eligibility

To be eligible for this incentive, candidates must:

• Have graduated from an approved post-secondary program
  • An approved program must: be equivalent to at least six months of full-time study at an eligible institution; result in a certificate, diploma, or undergraduate degree or provide journeyperson certification
• Have applied to the GRP within seven years of graduation
  • Note: 2018 Graduates have until April 30, 2025, to apply
• Already live in or be moving to Saskatchewan

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