Educating physicians by itself, doesn't help if the rural reality is unattractive for graduates. The RPAP program was evaluated in 1996 and was criticized as having no measurable success in improving physician distribution. In fact, most special skills trainees in emergency medicine have, perhaps predictably, ended up in urban ER's. Since then, the program has gotten more rural representation, more money, and return of service contracts are now in place. This applies to Alberta graduates only.
International grads are however free to the regions.
A potential wrinkle is that this motivates regions to take international grads. Week and weekend coverage for communities of 4 MD's and smaller. The two Alberta medical schools get moneys to put on regional conferences and teleconferences. Studies including special skills training are paid for rural doctors. The time frame of training is between 2 wk and 1yr.