Lobbying registration dated 2026-02-20
Registrant: Linda Silas
Client: Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
Targeted institutions:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS)
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG)
Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat (IGA)
Finance Canada (FIN)
House of Commons
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC)
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Privy Council Office (PCO)
Senate of Canada
Health Canada (HC)
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Public Safety Canada (PS)
Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Government funding received:
Lobbying activity details:
Targeted funding of $1 billion as an initial investment to immediately begin to address the current health care workforce crisis experienced by provinces/territories across Canada, with funding focused on short and long-term goals. To achieve patient-centred quality care based on the WHO’s comprehensive health labour markets framework that would be acceptable to, and delivered by, the provinces/territories.
Fund innovative retention and recruitment programs targeted at early-career, mid-career and late-career nurses.
Provide sustainable funding so nurses and other healthcare workers have access to mental health supports.
Implementing a Universal single-payer pharmacare program.
Support nursing students through targeted financial support such as paid preceptorships and federal grants.
Address health workforce shortages through the implementation of a comprehensive, pan-Canadian health human resources strategy, in coordination with the provinces and territories, backed by sufficient funding and with real accountability for achieving desired health outcomes; and address critical data gaps through significantly enhancing existing health workforce data infrastructure to standardize data collection and analysis across workers, sectors and jurisdictions, with links to relevant patient information, healthcare utilization and outcome data, for more fit-for-purpose planning and tools available at the provincial, territorial, regional and training program level. In designing this, Canada should draw on global best practices in health workforce planning including in Australia and New Zealand.
Establish a dedicated coordinating body to address critical health workforce data gaps based on global best practices on health workforce management.
In keeping with the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, establish specific targets and timelines for the admission and graduation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit health professionals in all postsecondary institutions and provide funding dedicated to indigenous nurse students.
Support internationally educated nurses through establishing a collaborative, multi-stakeholder body hosted by Health Canada, to lead national strategy, planning and coordination for internationally educated nurses' registration, integration and support.