May 26, 2026 – Health Workforce Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) have renewed and expanded their collaboration through a new Memorandum of Understanding, reinforcing their shared commitment to improving health workforce data, analytics and planning. Their work is designed to support the health workforce and improve health outcomes for people across Canada.
Health Workforce Canada and CIHI play distinct but complementary roles in Canada’s health workforce data ecosystem. Health Workforce Canada, established in 2023, convenes system leaders and partners to advance health workforce planning by sharing evidence-informed practices, identifying priorities for data advancement and creating practical tools that support decision‑making. CIHI is the national steward of health data and information standards, responsible for collecting, protecting and reporting health workforce data.
Through this renewed agreement, the two organizations are strengthening coordination and expanding their collaboration to ensure Canadians have access to accurate, relevant and high‑quality health workforce information.
Key areas of collaboration
Health Workforce Canada and CIHI will focus on four interconnected areas:
1. Advancing a data strategy
Health Workforce Canada and CIHI will work together to advance recommended actions in the Pan‑Canadian Health Workforce Data Strategy. This shared approach will support consistent data development across the country to have the greatest impact on workforce planning.
2. Improving access to data and analytics
The partnership will continue to enhance access to health workforce information through Health Workforce Canada’s dashboards and Digital Front Door, as well as CIHI’s reports, tools, and services—making data easier to find, understand, and use for planners, governments, employers, and other decision-makers.
3. Advancing workforce modelling and forecasting
Health Workforce Canada and CIHI will collaborate on health workforce modelling and forecasting, aligning analytic efforts to support long‑term planning, sustainability and coordinated pan‑Canadian workforce modelling.
4. Distinctions‑based health data governance
Both organizations reaffirm their commitment to working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners respecting distinctions-based governance principles to better understand and respond to their health information and data governance needs, as they define them.
Complementary roles, shared impact
The agreement recognizes CIHI’s role as Canada’s health workforce data steward and Health Workforce Canada’s role in transforming how the country plans for the health workforce, incorporating data into planning tools and modelling that supports real‑world decision‑making. By working in tandem, Health Workforce Canada and CIHI aim to better align products and priorities, strengthen coordination across the health workforce data landscape, and support a more sustainable, well‑planned health workforce for Canada.