On Campus

Layton’s NDP would dramatically increase medical students

$1 billion plan would add medical and nursing spots

New Democrat Leader Jack Layton was in Halifax Monday, pitching a $1 billion plan to dramatically increase the number of nursing and medical students in Canada.Layton said he would spend $200 million a year for five years to allow the number of medical students to increase by 1,200 annually and the number of nursing students by 6,000 a year. He told students and party faithful that his government would also forgive student loans to young doctors who spend the first decade of their careers in family medicine.

“Health care is one of the most important issues in the election,” Layton said. “Stephen Harper is a strong leader, all right. But he’s the wrong leader on health care and your family deserves better.”

In co-operation with the provinces, the NDP would also take measures to more easily recognize the credentials of foreign-trained doctors, Layton added.

-a report from Canadian Press

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