OTTAWA—Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos appointed Lee Chapman to the newly reinstated role of Commonwealth Chief Nursing Officer to inform the many challenges facing Canada’s healthcare system. did.
Recognizing the central role nurses have played in maintaining healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government announced in February it would restore that role.
Since then, the health care system has continued to shrink as a nationwide shortage of qualified nurses struggles to maintain care.
Unions representing nurses report that members are overworked, burnt out and leaving the industry in droves.
Duclos said Chapman will play a “critical” role in stabilizing the health workforce and ensuring that nurses’ perspectives are incorporated into health policy work.
Chapman is a registered nurse in Toronto who holds a Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of Toronto.
This report by the Canadian Press was first published on August 23, 2022.
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