What Is It?
Beyond the federal Canada Student Loan program (and its interest-free terms and Repayment Assistance Plan), most provinces have their own student loan programs with separate forgiveness, grant, and debt reduction features. These provincial programs are administered independently and require their own applications — they don’t apply automatically because you received federal assistance.
Many graduates leave thousands of dollars in provincial grants and forgiveness unclaimed because they focused on federal student loan information.
Provincial Programs — Key Benefits by Province
Ontario — OSAP Grants: The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) provides upfront grants (which don’t require repayment) based on income. As of 2023–24, students from families with income under $175,000 may qualify for grants up to the full cost of tuition. OSAP automatically assesses grant eligibility — but you must apply each year of study. Post-graduation, low-income graduates may qualify for Ontario’s debt-reduction.
British Columbia — BC Completion Grants and Loan Forgiveness: BC provides Completion Grants for students from lower-income families who successfully complete their program. Eligibility is assessed automatically on the student’s BC student loan application.
Saskatchewan — Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship: Graduates who live and work in Saskatchewan for 3 years after graduation may qualify for a rebate through the Graduate Retention Program — providing a personal income tax credit up to $20,000 for Saskatchewan-resident graduates.
New Brunswick — NB Student Loan Forgiveness: New Brunswick offers loan forgiveness for graduates who remain in New Brunswick and work in designated careers (healthcare, social work, information technology). Up to $20,000 of provincial loan forgiveness over 5 years.
PEI and Nova Scotia: Both provinces offer graduate retention programs — tax credits or bursaries for graduates who remain in the province to work.
Manitoba: The Manitoba Student Aid program includes bursaries for high-need students; graduates in healthcare who work in rural Manitoba may qualify for additional forgiveness.
Healthcare Worker Loan Forgiveness
Most provinces have specific programs for healthcare workers who practice in underserved communities:
- Physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals who work in rural, remote, or northern communities may qualify for provincial loan forgiveness in addition to federal forgiveness
- These programs often provide $5,000–$20,000+ in annual forgiveness for 3–5 years of service
Contact your provincial health authority’s physician or healthcare recruitment office — these programs are actively promoted to attract workers to underserved areas.
What Most People Don’t Know
- OSAP grants do not require repayment. The grant portion of OSAP is assessed at the time of application and automatically reduces what you owe. If you applied for OSAP but received only loans, it may be because your family income was assessed as too high for grants — but income changes (parent income decreases, etc.) can sometimes be appealed.
- Graduate Retention Programs require you to stay in the province. Saskatchewan’s Graduate Retention Program is one of the best in Canada, but requires that you file Saskatchewan taxes for 3–7 years and maintain residency. Plan your career location accordingly.
- Rural/remote incentives don’t require rural childhood. You can grow up in Toronto and qualify for rural healthcare loan forgiveness by practicing medicine in a rural Saskatchewan community — place of origin doesn’t matter, only place of practice.
- Some programs have deadlines after graduation. Certain provincial forgiveness programs must be applied for within 1–2 years of graduation. Check the deadlines for any programs in your province immediately after finishing school.
Frequently Asked Questions
I graduated 3 years ago. Are any provincial forgiveness programs still available to me?
It depends on the province and program. Ongoing retention-based programs (like Saskatchewan’s GRP tax credit) may still be available if you are working in the province now. Income-based provincial loan assistance (like Ontario’s) is typically evaluated at graduation. Contact your provincial student loan authority to check current program terms.
I graduated with a social work degree in New Brunswick but moved to Ontario for work. Can I still access NB loan forgiveness?
NB loan forgiveness requires that you live and work in NB in the eligible profession. If you moved to Ontario, you would no longer qualify. If you return to NB and practice social work there, you may requalify for future years of forgiveness.
I have both federal and provincial student loans. Are they repaid separately?
In most provinces, both are managed through NSLSC under a combined repayment plan. However, the interest terms, forgiveness rules, and repayment assistance programs for the provincial portion may differ from the federal portion. Your loan statement should break out the federal and provincial balances.
My OSAP grant was much smaller than I expected. Can I appeal the amount?
Yes — OSAP has an appeals process through your school’s financial aid office. Changes in family income (parent job loss, separation, etc.) can be documented and submitted for reassessment. The school administers OSAP appeals; contact the financial aid office directly.