By Canadian Press

Nurses group hopes premiers’ new sense of unity will lead to labour mobility

Jul 25, 2025 | 11:08 AM

OTTAWA — The Canadian Nurses Association says it hopes the new “united Team Canada” approach at the Council of the Federation will lead to harmonization of nurses’ licences across the country.

The association was among a number of health-care advocacy groups at the recent annual meeting of Canada’s premiers.

While health care tends to take centre stage when the premiers meet, this year’s gathering with Prime Minister Mark Carney was dominated by discussion of U.S. President Donald Trump’s global trade war.

The nurses association and the Canadian Medical Association have long urged the provinces and territories to ensure licences for doctors and nurses are recognized across the country.

In a statement at the end of their meeting on Wednesday, the premiers said they will work on improving labour mobility where appropriate.

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But Katherine Fierlbeck, a Dalhousie University political scientist who focuses on health policy, says the provinces have been happy to poach one another’s health workers, and that might make them reluctant to make it easier for people to move.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press