“Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia” in this year’s federal budget.

Canada's Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, wrote “Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia” in this year’s federal budget.

She did this because of a new policy that will forgive student loans for doctors and nurses who choose to work in rural communities.

Communities along Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore have long been cut out of a federal program that forgives student loans for doctors and nurses, because the definition of “rural” was tied to the population of a municipality, instead of the population of a community.

Not long after I was first elected, I learned about this problem from people in the community who told me that health professionals were choosing to work elsewhere because they would have access to this program.

After years of advocacy in Ottawa and work with the community at home, we’ve secured a major policy change.

Rural communities like Sheet Harbour or Middle Musquodoboit will be eligible for the program regardless of whether they are part of a larger urban municipality.

What’s even better - we’re also increasing the value of the program.

Going forward, nurses may qualify for up to $30,000 in loan forgiveness and doctors up to $60,000 if they choose to work in rural communities!

Thanks to all who trusted me to be their voice in Ottawa on this issue. This win belongs to our communities.