Canada’s nurses support premiers’ call for federal leadership on health care funding

July 22, 2026 (Charlottetown, PEI) – “Nurses’ unions were clear when we met with premiers today: Public health care is too important to Canada’s well-being and economy to fall off their priority list. It is encouraging to hear premiers prioritize health care and the need for a national approach,” said Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU).

Nurse union leaders from across the country met with Canada’s premiers for a policy breakfast meeting focused on the economic impact of public health care and the need to address expiring federal funding agreements through collaboration among provincial, territorial and federal governments.

Provinces and territories are facing federal funding cliffs for key health care agreements on long-term care, home and community care, and mental health and addictions services to the tune of nearly $2 billion. There are currently no plans to continue this funding.

These agreements fund services that help seniors, people with complex medical conditions, people leaving hospitals who need support at home, improvements to safety in long-term care homes, and more.

“Without this critical federal funding, access to care will only diminish. The end of these bilateral agreements does not have to mark a crushing end to much-needed health care projects. It’s time for a First Ministers’ Meeting dedicated to health care. Prime Minister Mark Carney must work with provinces and territories on a new framework that reflects the reality of the current system pressures,” explained Silas.

Silas reiterated the importance of public health care funding to a strong Canadian economy, pointing to a finding from a recent CFNU report that shows that for every dollar the federal government spends on health, between $1.32 and $1.45 is generated in additional GDP after just one year.

“Canada does not need more austerity measures. We need sound investment into a public health care system that works for everyone and strengthens our economy. Nurses’ unions are ready to work with the provincial, territorial and federal governments to protect public health care for today and future generations,” Silas said.

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The CFNU is Canada’s largest nurses’ organization, representing 250,000 frontline unionized nurses and nursing students in every sector of health care – from home care and LTC to community and acute care – and advocating on key priorities to strengthen public health care across the country.