12 more communities join rural and remote incentive program

August 26, 2026

Media Release, Health, Government of Saskatchewan

Key points from this story:

• 12 additional communities now eligible
• Incentives up to $50,000 offered
• Three-year return-in-service commitment required
• 94 communities now participate
• RRRI reduced vacancies 44% since 2022
• 8.7 million invested in 2026-27

Canwood, Cudworth, Eston, Hafford, Langenburg, Leask, Loon Lake, Norquay, Sandy Bay, Stoughton, Strasbourg and Whitewood are now eligible to offer incentive packages of up to $50,000 for a three-year return-in-service commitment in designated high-priority occupations. With this addition, 94 communities across Saskatchewan now participate in the program.

Rural and Remote Locations

(As of August 26, 2026, and subject to change based on conditions of service)
(*communities effective September 1, 2026)

Local communities

• Raymore
• Strasbourg *

"Building a stronger, more stable health care workforce is essential to putting patients first and ensuring the right care is available, in the right place, and at the right time," Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. "The expansion of the Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive program will continue to deliver real results by attracting more health professionals to communities that need them most." "We appreciate the Government of Saskatchewan's continued support for rural communities through the expansion of the Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive program," Stoughton Mayor Stefan Clark said. "Together with our partners at the RM of Tecumseh, this opportunity will support efforts to recruit a nurse practitioner and improve access to timely health care closer to home for residents of Stoughton and the surrounding area. It will help reduce travel for care and allow more seniors and families to remain in their community."

Since 2022, the RRRI program has helped reduce vacancies by 44 per cent across eligible communities with more than 650 hard-to-recruit positions having been filled, contributing to improved service stability in rural and northern Saskatchewan. The RRRI program was supported by an $8.7 million investment in the 2026-27 Provincial Budget to maintain and expand the program. Incentives are available to new, permanent full time employees in nine high-priority health care occupations, including Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Practical Nurses, Continuing Care Assistants, Medical Laboratory Technologists, Medical Laboratory Assistants, Medical Radiation Technologists, Combined Lab and X-Ray Technicians.

The RRRI program is a key component of Saskatchewan's Health Human Resources Action Plan, which has supported the recruitment of more than 7,500 health care professionals since 2023. The plan focuses on expanding training, strengthening retention, stabilizing rural and northern services and building a workforce that meets the needs of a growing province. The eligibility for the additional 12 communities is effective September 1st. A complete list of the 94 participating communities, including eligibility criteria and application information, is available at Saskatchewan Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive. Information on health care career opportunities, available recruitment and retention initiatives and Saskatchewan's Health Human Resources (HHR) Action Plan is available at saskatchewan.ca/HHR