There are now 70 communities who are eligible for the Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive program for health care workers, which is an increase of 16 locations. Candle Lake, Spiritwood, Elrose and Wakaw are included in the 16. The complete list is below.

The incentive is up to $50,000 for three years working full-time in nine high priority health occupations in communities experiencing or at risk of service disruptions due to staffing challenges. A government news release says more than 420 hard-to-recruit positions have been filled as a result of the RRRI program. From the provincial budget released a few weeks ago, $8.7 million is allocated this fiscal year for the Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive program.

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.