Confederation College program added to Learn and Stay Grant program

The provincial government is expanding its Learn and Stay Grant program.

It offers free tuition and support with other school expenses to students who study in certain programs in return for working in underserved areas, including northern Ontario, for at least two years.

Students who enrol in the medical laboratory science program at Confederation College this fall will be the latest to be eligible.

College President Michelle Salo welcomes the news.

“Confederation College is proud to see the expansion of the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant to our medical laboratory programs, a move that will have a profound impact on health care in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario,” states Salo in a release.

“By removing financial barriers and supporting learners who commit to staying in the region, this investment strengthens our communities and helps ensure access to critical diagnostic services close to home.”

The program is also being extended to students who enrol in a medical laboratory technology program at Canadore College in North Bay.

Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn says it will address the need for a highly-skilled healthcare workforce in the north.

“With two new OLSG-eligible medical laboratory programs in Northern Ontario, we’re removing financial barriers to help passionate, dedicated students pursue a world-class education, while connecting more people to high-quality care in their community,” states Quinn.

The expansion builds on the thousands of nurses, paramedics and medical laboratory technologists who have been or will be added to the region’s workforce with the support of Learn and Stay since 2023.

The province says more than $171 million has gone to 12,700 students across the province.