As pressure on the healthcare system continues across the country, the federal government has appointed Lee Chapman as Chief Nursing Officer of Canada (CNO), and Chapman’s role will be to represent nurses at the federal level and provide strategic advice from a nursing perspective.

Many healthcare professionals, including nurses, are currently facing immense challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, with several jurisdictions in Canada already reporting nursing shortages, affecting the operation of emergency rooms.

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in unveiling Chapman as the appointee for the position on Tuesday: "With this growing crisis, we need to support our nurses, ensure their voices are heard, and that the challenges they face are met with solutions. We need the right advice and expertise to guide our path forward, and we all look forward to learning from Dr. Chapman’s extensive experience and vision."

For the record, Chapman is a nurse with nearly 20 years of experience and holds a PhD from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Nursing.

On the other hand, Duclos said he will participate in developing broad health system policy, work with regulatory bodies and educators, and represent the federal government in public health forums inside and outside Canada.