The provincial government has announced 16 additional locations that will benefit from Saskatchewan’s Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive (RRRI) program — under the program, new, permanent full-time employees who sign a three-year return-in-service contract can receive incentives up to $50,000, paid out over the three-year term.
The incentive is offered to nine high-priority health occupations in rural and remote communities experiencing or at risk of service disruptions due to staffing challenges:
- Registered Nurse
- Combined Lab & X-ray Technicians
- Registered Psychiatric Nurse
- Medical Laboratory Technologists
- Nurse Practitioner
- Medical Laboratory Assistants
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Medical Radiation Technologists
- Continuing Care Assistants
The three-year return in service is required to be completed in the same location/department and position.
The Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive is considered taxable income, and a T4A is provided for each corresponding year in which funds are received.
“This incentive program has proven to be a great success in attracting highly sought after health care workers such as nurses, medical technicians, and continuing care assistants, where they are most needed in our rural communities,” Rural and Remote Health Minister Lori Carr said. “We continue to deliver on growing our health care workforce to provide improved access and quality of care to patients across the province.”
More than 420 hard-to-recruit positions have been filled as a direct result of the RRRI program, which is key to stabilizing and strengthening health care services in rural and northern communities.
The 16 new communities where the incentive is now offered are: Arborfield, Balcarres, Beechy, Candle Lake, Carrot River, Central Butte, Cut Knife, Elrose, Foam Lake, Grenfell, Kerrobert, Maryfield, Pinehouse Lake, Raymore, Spiritwood, and Wakaw.
“Through these robust recruitment and retention initiatives, we are continuing to stabilize local health care services in rural communities,” said Brenda Schwan, Saskatchewan Health Authority’s Vice President Integrated Rural Health.
“The expansion of this incentive will help us provide long-term solutions and ensure support is available to provide appropriate and equitable care as close to home as possible.”
A complete listing of the 70 communities and the nine occupations, as well as details on eligibility and how to apply are available at Saskatchewan Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive. Moose Jaw, Assiniboia, Weyburn, and Estevan are also on the list.
Funding of $8.7 million is provided in 2025-26 for the RRRI program. This includes a $1.8 million investment for an additional intake round of up to 180 new applicants, and continued funding of $6.9 million for existing recipients completing their second and third year in the workplace.
The RRRI program is a component of the province’s Health Human Resources Action Plan (HHR) to recruit, train, incentivize, and retain more health professionals, which has now entered its third year.
The 2025-26 Health budget provides a total of $13 million for health care incentive programs, including the Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive, Rural Physician Incentive Program, and incentives for specialists.
Learn more at saskatchewan.ca/HHR.
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