https://www.cna-aiic.ca/fr/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/02/04/laiic-rejouit-systeme-de-soins-de-sante-connecte
Ottawa, February 4, 2026 -- The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) welcomes today’s introduction of Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, which aims to strengthen and modernize Canada’s health-care systems through secure, interoperable digital health infrastructure.
Canada’s health-care systems continue to lag behind other sectors in adopting connected technologies. Currently, more than 70% of electronic health information is not accessible to health-care providers to support integrated service delivery across the continuum of care. These barriers are preventing Canadians from receiving high-quality, safe, patient-centred care and having seamless access to their secure personal health information.
CNA supports the introduction of Bill S-5, which seeks to safeguard Canadians’ own health data while enabling health-care systems to better leverage digital innovation, including virtual and digitally enabled models of care that improve access, continuity, and efficiency. If enacted, the legislation would require all information technology companies that deliver digital health services in Canada to adopt common standards to support the secure, protected, and interoperable information exchange across platforms, points of care, and jurisdictions.
By improving access to accurate and timely personal health information, the Connected Care for Canadians Act has the potential to enhance collaboration among interprofessional teams, reduce duplication, and improve patient outcomes. Nurse practitioners and nurses witness firsthand when patients fall between the cracks due to poor information exchange along the continuum of care, and CNA has been calling for the adoption of clinical data standards for decades.
By establishing common standards, the legislation can also support consistent, safe, and effective expansion of technology-enabled care. Reliable access to interoperable personal health information is essential for nurse practitioners, nurses, and other health providers delivering care, ensuring clinical decisions are informed, coordinated, and responsive to patients’ needs, regardless of location.
“The Canadian Nurses Association supports efforts to modernize the sharing and use of health data across Canada. Secure, timely access to personal health information is essential for nurse practitioners and nurses to deliver high-quality, coordinated care and improve patient outcomes. This legislation represents an important step toward more connected health systems that empower patients, strengthen continuity of care, and enable nurses to work to their full scope of practice as they advance Canadians’ overall health and well-being” says Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc, President of CNA.
“Canadians should have confidence that their personal health information is protected and used appropriately to support their care,” said Dr. Valerie Grdisa, CEO of CNA. “By establishing clear, consistent standards for digital health systems, this legislation helps build trust while enabling health systems across the nation to benefit from the same technological advances seen in other sectors.”
CNA will continue to work collaboratively with the Government of Canada and its partners to ensure that the implementation of digital health solutions prioritizes patient safety, privacy, and equity. With deep expertise in patient care, Canada’s nurse practitioners and nurses are ideally positioned to assess the real-world impact of artificial intelligence-driven tools, contribute to post-market surveillance, and advocate for patient-centred, safe, and secure advanced technology adoption and connect care.
“Timely and secure access to personal health information is critical to saving lives and improving care for Canadians. The Connected Care for Canadians Act is about empowering Canadians to securely access their own health data, so patients and those involved in their care have the information they need to make the right decisions at the right time. This legislation is a critical step towards a more connected health care system that supports all Canadians."
— The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health of Canada
CNA’s Policy Roadmap offers a comprehensive, evidence-based vision to guide governments in building stronger, more accessible, equitable, and sustainable health systems.
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About the Canadian Nurses Association
CNA is the national and global professional voice of Canadian nursing. Our mission is to advance the nursing profession to improve health outcomes in Canada’s publicly funded, not-for-profit health system. CNA is the only national association that speaks for all nurses in all sectors and practice settings across all 13 provinces and territories. We represent unionized and non-unionized nurses, retired nurses, nursing students, and all categories of nurses (licensed and registered practical nurses, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses).
For more information, please contact:
Amber Morley
Media and Communications Coordinator
Cell: 613-282-7859
Email: amorley@cna-aiic.ca
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