https://www.cna-aiic.ca/fr/blogs/ic-contenu/2026/07/23/laiic-presente-des-solutions-infirmieres
July 23, 2026 (Charlottetown, PEI) — The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) wrapped up three days in Charlottetown, where it brought practical nursing solutions directly to premiers, health ministers, government officials and health-system partners.
As part of its ongoing advocacy, CNA was on site throughout the premiers' meeting to engage directly with policy makers and carry forward the voice of Canada's nurses. CNA urged premiers to enable nurses to use their full knowledge and skills, make it easier for nurses to work where they are needed, and ensure nurses help shape the safe, accountable use of AI in health care.
Among the outcomes of this week's meeting, premiers directed their Internal Trade Ministers to expand the Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement to include services — a step CNA has encouraged since the agreement was signed in 2025. Services include those provided by the health workforce, including the four nursing designations, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses (registered practical nurses in ON), registered psychiatric nurses, and nurse practitioners. Greater alignment of nursing regulatory requirements across provinces and territories will help qualified nurses begin working sooner, while respecting each jurisdiction's authority over the profession.
“Premiers have opened the door by directing ministers to bring services into the mutual recognition agreement,” said Dr. Valerie Grdisa, CEO of CNA. “Nursing is a natural place to start. It's a practical step that would improve access to care in every province and territory, especially in rural, remote, and northern communities, and it's within premiers' own authority to act on.”
Premiers also directed ministers to develop a pan-Canadian approach to deploying emergency personnel across jurisdictions during natural disasters. CNA welcomes this direction, which depends on health professionals being able to work across provincial and territorial borders.
CNA also met with Prince Edward Island Minister of Health and Wellness Cory Deagle, Deputy Minister Lisa Thibeau, Interim Health PEI CEO Laurae Kloschinsky and PEI Chief Nursing Officer Marion Dowling. The discussion included the province's development of its first provincial nursing strategy. CNA expressed its support for this work, emphasizing the importance of ensuring nurses’ voices shape solutions related to health workforce planning, retention, enabling nurses to practise to their full scope of practice and regulatory harmonization.
“Prince Edward Island is taking the opportunity to build a nursing strategy shaped by the nurses who understand the province's workforce and health system needs,” said Dr. Tracie Risling, president of CNA. “CNA is committed to supporting this work and sharing perspectives and lessons from our workforce dialogues across Canada.”
A highlight of CNA’s time in Charlottetown was our visit to Queen Elizabeth Hospital to speak with nurses at the point of care and nursing educators and leaders about their contributions and the solutions they believe need to be addressed through the provincial nursing strategy. These conversations are critical to informing CNA's national advocacy and its continued work with governments to strengthen the nursing profession and improve access and quality of care. That includes investing in nursing expertise, such as specialty certification and workplace excellence programs.
“The solutions are within reach,” said Grdisa. “The opportunity now is to turn discussion into action by aligning policy, regulation and innovation with the nursing expertise already present in every province and territory.”
CNA will continue advocating for nursing expertise to be reflected in health policy, workforce planning, regulatory harmonization, and decisions about the use of technology in care.
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About the Canadian Nurses Association
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 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 nurses across all four regulated designations: licensed and registered practical nurses, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses.
Media contact
Kerri-Anne Finn
Media and Communications Coordinator
Canadian Nurses Association
Cell: 613-282-7859
Email: kfinn@cna-aiic.ca
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