The British Columbia government is spending more money to recruit and retain health-science workers, while expanding an incentive program to dozens more rural communities.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says $155.7 million has been set aside at a time when B.C. has a “significantly increasing population” and more skilled health-care staff are needed, particularly in remote communities.

There are dozens of health occupations that will benefit from the funding, including audiologists, dietitians, lab technologists and radiation therapists.

Dix says $73.1 million will go toward keeping health and clinical support workers in rural areas and giving signing bonuses for those who fill high-priority health vacancies, while another $60 million will be set aside for professional development supports and mental health and wellness services for workers.

Dix says $15 million will be spent on peer support and mentorship for new health-care graduates and internationally-educated health professionals, and $7.6 million is slated for training, bursaries, and offsetting licensing and exam fees.

The province says in a news release that its rural retention incentive program, which provides up to $8,000 per year to health care workers in small communities, is being expanded to 56 more locations.

That means a total of 74 communities — including Hope, Fernie, Golden, Quesnel and more — will receive the one-year program’s benefits, which last until the end of March 2025.