Hayes: Quality medical services close to home essential

NEWS RELEASE

BRYAN HAYES CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE SAULT STE. MARIE & AREA

************************* Harper to strengthen essential services in North

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - Conservative candidate Bryan Hayes today announced that a stable national Conservative government will create incentives to attract more family practitioners, nurse practitioners and nurses to Northern Ontario communities like Sault Ste. Marie and Area as well as rural and remote communities across Canada.

Budget 2011, the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, included this measure, but was rejected by the Ignatieff-led Coalition with the NDP and Bloc Québécois.

To combat the shortage of health care professionals in rural and remote communities, a re-elected Conservative government will forgive a portion of Canada Student Loans for new family physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses who practice in under-served communities.

Practicing family physicians will be eligible for federal Canada Student Loan forgiveness of up to $8,000 for each year of practice in a rural or remote community, to a maximum of $40,000.

Nurse practitioners and nurses will be eligible for federal Canada Student Loan forgiveness of up to $4,000 per year to a maximum of $20,000.

This will complement initiatives that are underway in provinces and territories to expand the provision of primary health services to Canadians in these communities.

Although the number of doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses who decide to practice in rural and remote communities has increased in recent years, a number of communities across the country still face shortages of medical professionals.

Bryan Hayes said that “I firmly believe that the people of Sault Ste. Marie and Area should have access to quality medical services close to home, just like people living in large urban centres.”

This initiative announced by Prime Minister Harper is a prudent and responsible way to help the people of Sault Ste. Marie and Area living in Northern Ontario.

This financial assistance for health care professionals complements the measures already put in place by several provinces and respects provincial jurisdiction. “With a stable national Conservative government for Canada, the interests and values of Sault Ste. Marie and Area will be defended and will be in the forefront,” said Bryan Hayes.

Bryan Hayes also argued that the people of Sault Ste. Marie and Area have a clear choice in this election.

Either vote for a reckless Coalition led by Mr. Ignatieff, whose tax hikes will jeopardize our fragile economic recovery, kill jobs and set families back, or a stable national majority Conservative Government for Canada that will complete our economic recovery, strengthen families’ financial security and defend the values of Northern Ontario.

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