Silas says addressing federal funding cliffs is critical to ensuring older Canadians get quality care
October 14, 2026 (Winnipeg, MB) – Canada’s health ministers are joining nurse union leaders from across the country for a policy meeting on Friday, October 16, focused on addressing expiring federal funding agreements and implementing a national seniors’ care strategy. The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) is calling for the renewal of key health funding agreements on long-term care, mental health and addictions, and home and community care.
“As Canada’s population ages, dedicated federal funding is key to ensuring Canada’s health care systems are prepared for the rapidly growing care needs of older adults,” CFNU President Linda Silas explained. “Long-term funding is the first step to implementing a national seniors’ care strategy and enforcing mandatory quality standards for care – legislation that is far overdue in this country.”
The CFNU is calling for a national seniors’ care strategy that prioritizes care close to home and aging in the optimal place, mandatory standards for staffing seniors-focused health services, proactive disease prevention and rehabilitation programs, pay parity for workers, and increased funding and cohesive frameworks to enable nurses and other health care workers to deliver high-quality comprehensive care.
Health ministers will hear directly from Dr. Samir Sinha, geriatrician and expert in the care of older Canadians, about the important role of home and community care in the country’s health care systems.
“Healthy aging starts right in our own homes and communities,” said Dr. Sinha. “Our goal should be care closer to or at home whenever possible, and ensuring older adults are aging in the right place, supported by person-centred care, autonomy, choice and a continued ability to participate in our society. Home and community-based care must be at the heart of caring for older Canadians – not an afterthought.”
Bilateral agreements on home and community care expire in March 2027, along with agreements on mental health and addictions. The Aging with Dignity bilateral agreements, which apply standards of care in long-term care facilities and help support workforce stability, expire in March 2028. Altogether, it adds up to nearly $2 billion of federal funding.
“Long-term funding agreements are absolutely critical to ensure everyone has access to the care they need at all ages,” said Silas. “Governments have long known that seniors care in Canada needs improvement, and we know that the need for this care is only going to increase. It’s time for governments and employers to make it a priority, roll up their sleeves and get the job done.”
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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.
For more information, please contact Adella Khan, media@nursesunions.ca, 613‑807‑2942.