Chief Nursing Officer (Canada)

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is the most senior advisor on nursing matters in the Canadian government. The office is associated with the Department of Health's Strategic Policy Branch.

Role
The CNO position has been credited with creating nurse educator positions in hospitals, targeting federal funding for research on nursing working conditions, and enabling access to federal databases to research healthcare findings.

History
In 1968, the inaugural Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) was appointed in Canada. The first CNO was Verna Huffman Splane. The role's scope was expanded in 1999 with the establishment of the Office of Nursing Policy within Health Canada's Strategic Policy Branch. In 2012, during a realignment of resources, the CNO position at Health Canada was eliminated by the Harper administration. However, recognizing its significance, the CNO role was restored in 2022 by the Trudeau administration and filled for the first time in 10 years.