Parliamentary Committees

From time to time, the CFNU is called upon to present oral and/or written submissions to various parliamentary committees on a range of topics, as they undertake studies or debate bills on spending, legislation and other issues. These appearances provide an opportunity for the CFNU to bring the voices of frontline nurses and to deliver evidence-based recommendations to Canada’s Parliament.

Recent Appearances/Submissions

Standing Committee on Health (HESA)

• February 28, 2022, regarding the parliamentary Study of Canada’s Health Workforce. CFNU’s submission can be read here.
• April 23, 2021, regarding the parliamentary study on the Emergency Situation Facing Canadians in Light of the Second Wave of the COVID‑19 Pandemic, CFNU Secretary-Treasurer, Pauline Worsfold, appeared as a witness to discuss the sustainability of the nursing workforce in light of the many challenges nurses have faced over the course of the pandemic. You can view it starting at the 14:16:08 mark here, and CFNU’s submission can be read here.
• April 7, 2020, regarding the Briefing on the Canadian Response to the Outbreak of the Coronavirus. Read Linda Silas’ speech before the Parliamentary Health Committee.
• May 14, 2019, regarding the parliamentary study on violence faced by health care workers in their workplaces. Read the CFNU submission.
• June 13, 2018, regarding the unanimous adoption of a motion to study violence faced by health care workers in their workplaces. Read CFNU President Linda Silas’s January 2018 letter to Health Committee Chair MP Bill Casey, requesting a study on this matter. Read the text of the motion here.
• June 30, 2016, regarding the Development of a National Pharmacare Program. Read the CFNU submission.

Patented Medicine Prices Review Board

•  July 28, 2020, regarding PMPRB Draft Guidelines 2020 Consultation. Read the CFNU’s submission to PMPRB.

Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare 

• September 28, 2018, regarding national consultations on the implementation of pharmacare. Read the CFNU’s submission to the Advisory Council.

Finance Committee (FINA) 

• January 2023, CFNU’s formal submission to the Department of Finance – key initiatives from Canada’s nurses to include in Budget 2023
• October 2022, regarding pre-budget consultations. Read the Pre-budget Submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee by CFNU
• August 7, 2020, regarding pre-budget consultations. Read the Pre-budget Submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee by CFNU
• August 3, 2018, regarding pre-budget consultations. Read the Pre-budget Submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee by CFNU
• August 3, 2017, regarding pre-budget consultations. Read the Pre-budget Submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee

Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science & Technology

•  February 21, 2019 regarding the consideration of Bill S-252, Voluntary Blood Donations Act. Read CFNU President Linda Silas’s testimony here calling to for the implementation of Bill S-252 to safeguard Canada’s blood supply from profit-makers.

Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence 

• April 1, 2019, regarding the consideration of Bill C-71, An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms. Read CFNU President Linda Silas’s verbal testimony to committee here.
• June 4, 2018, regarding the consideration of Bill C-211, An Act respecting a federal framework on post-traumatic stress disorder. Read CFNU President Linda Silas’s verbal testimony calling for the inclusion of nurses here.

Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) 

• October 31, 2017, regarding the Study to Advance the Inclusion and Quality of Life of Seniors. Read the briefing document submitted A Safe Model for Home Care: Designing a Hospital Without Walls and the CFNU Recommendations for Safe Home Care.

Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO) 

• March 15, 2017, regarding the study on The Economic Security of Women in Canada. Read the CFNU submission.

CFNU President Linda Silas is at the House of Commons standing committee on health to raise awareness on the issue of violence in the health care sector and to call on the government to address this crisis. #NotPartoftheJob #nomoreviolence pic.twitter.com/JaUVKDpRy8

— Canada's Nurses (@CFNU) May 14, 2019

Proud to shake hands w/ @billcaiseyns. Chair of HESA who just delivered Canada’s next step for a national pharmacare program #aplanforeveryone Canada’s Nurses @CFNU say 👍👍 #CDNPOLI pic.twitter.com/Eq8VI0gScD

— Linda Silas (@CFNUPresident) April 18, 2018