Silas: Now is the time to bolster and enhance our health care system with the concrete solutions that nurses know will work.
June 2, 2025 (Niagara Falls, ON) – Close to 1,200 union nurses from across Canada have gathered in Niagara Falls today for a week of business, advocacy and solidarity at the 22nd biennial convention of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU). The CFNU is the largest movement of union nurses across North America.
Reflecting the convention theme All In, convention delegates are committed to work throughout the week on how best to defend public health care, push for safe nurse-patient ratios in health care facilities everywhere, improve working conditions, improve access to care for all, and work towards a trusted relationship with Indigenous Peoples.
“We are all in for safe staffing, all in for safe long-term care, all in for pharmacare, and all in for publicly financed and publicly delivered health care,” said CFNU President Linda Silas. “In the face of the trade war that the United States is waging against Canada, now is the time to bolster and enhance our health care system with the concrete solutions that nurses know will work.”
Hosted by the Ontario Nurses’ Association, the convention brings together nurses from each provincial nurses’ union in the CFNU’s membership. This convention marks the largest gathering of nurses in Canada since the federal election in April.
“This week, nurses are coming together with ideas and solutions that we can take back into health care settings across the country,” said RN and ONA provincial president Erin Ariss. “When nurses raise our voices together, there is no stopping us. We have the power to influence real change and create better futures – in our workplaces, our communities, and Canada as a whole.”
Nurses will mark the opening day of convention with a night of celebrations and inspiring speakers, including Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Leigh Chapman and President of the Canadian Labour Congress Bea Bruske.
Bea Bruske, Canadian Labour Congress President: “Staffing shortages are pushing our health care system to the brink – and its health care workers and patients who are paying the price. These vital workers deserve respect, safe and healthy workplaces, and fair wages. Canada’s unions are all in and united in demanding swift action to strengthen public health care – starting with access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner for every Canadian and expanding universal publicly funded pharmacare.”
Dr. Leigh Chapman, Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer: “Nurses know the health care system in and out, making us some of the best advocates for safe patient care and strong public health care. With governments, employers and nurses and health care professionals working together, we can ensure our public health care system is strong for generations to come.”
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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.