September 17, 2021 (OTTAWA, ON) – Nurses, health care workers and their supporters are participating in a national day of action today, protesting the lack of government action to fix the critical nursing shortage and make urgently needed improvements to Canada’s beleaguered health care system. The day of action was called by the Canadian Federation of Nurses […]
Read MoreMEDIA RELEASE Federal parties have failed to prioritize health care, say Canada’s nurses as they release election scorecard September 14, 2021 (OTTAWA, ON) – The country’s largest nurses’ organization is expressing frustration over the lack of emphasis placed on supporting nurses and public health care by federal parties during this election campaign. The Canadian Federation of Nurses […]
Read MoreOver the past few weeks, we have watched public discourse around vaccination and other public health measures rapidly devolve. This reached fever pitch, last week, as a small but vocal minority protested outside hospitals, disrupting access to vital care. More recently, we’ve seen federal election candidates attacked and their campaign signs defaced. Even the nursing […]
Read MoreThe following letter was sent to all federal party leaders on September 3, 2021. Amid a fourth wave of COVID-19 and a federal election campaign, Canada’s nurses call on you to commit to adopting robust prevention measures to protect the Canadian public and frontline workers. We support the appeal sent to you by members of […]
Read MoreOn this Labour Day, I’m reminded of the driving forces that coalesced workers into a strong labour movement. During the industrial revolution, workers banded together to demand safer and healthier working conditions. In mines and factories, they fought for the right to return home, safe and sound, at the end of the workday. They called for […]
Read MoreThe following opinion editorial first appeared in Toronto Star on August 30, 2021. Without a nurse, a bed is just a bed Solutions for the nursing shortage in Canada By Linda Silas Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we repeatedly heard about a shortage of beds in hospitals and long-term care. Field hospitals were deployed, equipment was […]
Read MoreThroughout this pandemic, the CFNU has consistently aligned its position with science, evidenced-based decision-making, and a precautionary approach. When COVID-19 first emerged and little was known about how it spread, the CFNU fought for PPE and airborne precautions to keep nurses safe – to keep everyone safe. We pushed governments and employers to put safety […]
Read MoreThe following opinion editorial first appeared in The Province on August 25, 2021. No more excuses: pharmacare now By Steve Morgan and Linda Silas Nearly a quarter century ago, the federal government hosted a conference on national pharmacare in Saskatoon – the birthplace of Canadian medicare. The meeting was extraordinarily frustrating to delegates who anticipated […]
Read MoreCOVID-19 Vaccination Position Statement Click here for PDF. The CFNU encourages nurses, other health care workers and the general public to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect themselves, their families, their colleagues and vulnerable patients/residents/clients, as well as to prevent the overextension of all our health care services, including hospital, long-term care, home care and […]
Read MoreThe following opinion editorial first appeared in Toronto Star on August 21, 2021. Devastation brought by COVID-19 shows Ottawa must take over care for seniors By Linda Silas and Pat Armstrong As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term care sector, where conditions […]
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