The Canadian Dental Hygienist Association (CDHA) is applauding the federal government’s Budget 2024 for expanding the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program to dental hygienists working in rural and remote communities.
“The expansion of the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program will support dental hygienists in delivering critical oral health care to historically underserved rural and remote communities across Canada,” says Francine Trudeau, president of CDHA. “As experts in oral health education and prevention, dental hygienists are keenly aware of the necessity of ensuring Canadians have timely, unencumbered access to preventive oral health care, no matter where they live.”
The budget also reiterated the government’s commitment to improving oral health care with the launch of the the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which dental hygienists are eligible providers for. The CDHA believes the expansion of the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program and the CDCP will help improve the health and well-being of Canadians. They are committed to working with Health Canada on the delivery and development of the CDCP.
