What is the RCIF?
The Rural Capacity Investment Fund (RCIF) was created through the Multi-Employer & AUPE Auxiliary Nursing Care Collective Agreement (2024–2028). Employer and union representatives run it together. Its purpose is to support recruitment and retention at rural and remote sites, programs and positions in Alberta that are difficult to recruit to.
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The Fund totals $42.2 million over the life of the Collective Agreement, running until March 2028. It can be used for recruitment and retention incentives and for relocation assistance.
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The RCIF is established under Letter of Understanding #22 of the 2024–2028 Collective Agreement.
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The RCIF Committee Is Now Meeting
The Fund is guided by a joint committee of six employer representatives and six AUPE representatives from the North, Central and South Zones.
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The participating employers are Alberta Health Services, Assisted Living Alberta, Cancer Care Alberta, Emergency Health Services, Health Shared Services, Primary Care Alberta and Recovery Alberta.
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The committee has started meeting and is working on how the fund will be allocated. Its work includes:
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Reviewing which sites, programs and positions are difficult to recruit to
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Considering and discussing recruitment and retention initiatives
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Assessing whether funded initiatives are working
What Happens Next?
No funding opportunities are open yet. Decisions about funding priorities, eligibility and how to apply
will be posted here as the committee moves forward.
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Please check this website regularly for updates.
Where the Fund is Focused
The fund focuses mainly on difficult to recruit sites in Alberta's North, Central, and South Zones. The committee may also agree to support rural sites in the Edmonton and Calgary Zones. Indicators that a site is difficult to recruit to include:
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High vacancy rates
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Vacancies unfilled for more than 90 days
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High turnover