PCs back off criticism of premier as Furey reveals time spent and money earned as surgeon

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey says he spent 15days in 2022and early 2023 working as a surgeon.

The latest numbers, released by the premier's office to CBC News, show that he worked for five different periods of between two and five days, with each period includingat least one weekend day. Last year, Furey promised to release the amount of time he spends working as a surgeon.

It's unusual to have a premier work at another job, but when he entered politics, Furey said he intended to do enough work as an orthopedic surgeon in order to maintain his licence.

The provincial college of physicians and surgeons says a doctor needs to have worked as a doctor for 120 days in the previous three yearsin order to renew a licence.

Furey says he was fixing a broken leg anda broken arm, and dealing with wound care.

WATCH | How much time is N.L.'s premier working as a surgeon? CBC News has the numbers:

How much time is Andrew Furey spending working as a surgeon? We break down the numbers

12 months ago

Duration 1:57

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey continues to work as a surgeon. The CBC's Peter Cowan breaks down how much time he's spending, how much he's getting paid and why the opposition is no longer calling Furey a "part-time premier."

He billed $68,857 for the work he did, which included payments for being on call, and $11,083 in payments to cover insurance costs. He receives that on top of the $160,000 he makes a premier.

When he became premier, the provincial PCs labelled him a part-time premier.

"If you've got a premier, that job demands your full attention," Ches Crosbie, who led the party until his defeat in the 2021 election, told reporters in October 2020.

But the current PC leader doesn't see an issue with the amount of time Furey is spending in the operating room.

"The fact that he can use his skill set to help patients here is an an additive," said Brazil.

"My challenge still is to the premier to find a solution to get more specialists in, more surgeons in, more family practitioners, more health professionals, nurses."

Brazil also said he has no problem with Furey collecting money for the work he's doing as a surgeon.

"He's only getting paid what would be the scale for what he's performing there. So he's entitled to that, he's putting in that time."

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