As healthcare systems face growing access challenges and inequities, nurse practitioners are well positioned to be part of the solution—but progress often depends on navigating complex policy environments. This session explores the Canada Health Act and examines how NP integration across primary, acute, and community settings can improve access and equity. With a focus on strategy, participants will identify key barriers, explore emerging models of care, and gain practical approaches to strengthening commitment to NP role optimization while effectively addressing resistance within policy and decision-making spaces.

SPEAKER

Steven Lewis is a health policy and health services research consultant, and Adjunct Professor of Health Policy at Simon Fraser University. He has worked with governments, health care organizations, pan-Canadian agencies, regulators, professional organizations, and quality improvement agencies. He led a health research granting agency, and created the first evidence-based system improvement organization in Saskatchewan. He has published widely in peer-reviewed and other journals, newsletters, and public media He is a board member and treasurer of a community health centre in Vancouver, and writes a monthly health policy column for the Saskatoon and Regina newspapers.