Free money in your piggy bank? That's what Nova Scotia PC leader promises doctors

Just weeks away from a provincial general election, Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative leader has proposed a solution to the province’s chronic doctor shortage: matching RRSP contributions for family physicians. “From Digby to Glace Bay, every community I go to I hear the same number one concern; access to a doctor and wait times to receive care,” PC leader Tim Houston, who is a chartered accountant, told the Halifax Examiner. “The Liberals have failed to create an environment that supports physicians and that entices them to set up shop in Nova Scotia.” Houston’s campaign promise sees the province—which has an estimated 69,000 residents on a waitlist for a family doctor—contributing to family physicians’ Registered Retirement Savings Plans, with amounts based on each doctor’s years of experience. Experienced physicians with more than 15 years of practice will get their RRSP contributions matched up to $15,000 a year while those with five to 15 years will receive matching amounts of up to $10,000 a year. For novice physicians who have practised for five years or less, the province will put in up to $5,000 a year, with no matching contribution required. The five-year total of $25,000 will be paid as a lump sum after an additional two years of service. Read: Now is not the time for a federal election The PC party estimates this program—which is similar to B.C.’s Contributory Professional Retirement Savings Plan—will cost just over $6 million a year. The province will recoup about $2 million through personal income taxes because the RRSP contributions paid by the province will count as taxable benefits. Houston said the PCs, if elected, will ask the federal government to redirect its share of physician’s income taxes from the program back to the province, to invest in healthcare. The matching RRSP contribution program is intended to keep more Nova Scotia-trained doctors in the province while attracting doctors from other provinces, said Houston. He acknowledged, however, that while a PC government would pay family doctors “fair salaries,” Nova Scotia is unlikely to win a bidding war over other provinces. As part of their physician recruitment and retention strategy, the Conservatives also promise to establish a clinical associate program to mentor foreign-trained physicians and help them get accreditation to practice medicine in the province. An increase in residency seats targeted to areas of specialty and identified needs is also part of the strategy. Read: Nova Scotia hospital opens new ICU

Free money in your piggy bank? That's what Nova Scotia PC leader promises doctors

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