Furey promises government 'working hard' to end travel nursing as PCs push for contract answers

Newfoundland and Labrador PC Leader Tony Wakehamleapt at the opportunity to press the Liberal government onits spending onexpensive travel nurses at the House of Assembly on Monday, as politicians gathered for the start of the spring session.

The province spent$35.6 million on nurses from private agenciesbetween April andAugust 2023. Before the pandemic,the province spent an average of just over $1 million annually.

The news, first reportedbythe Globe and Mail, drew immediate frustration from opposition parties and the province's nurses' union, both calling for the auditor general to investigate.

On Monday,Wakeham asked Premier Andrew Furey if he authorized the contract for Toronto-based private nursing firm Canadian Health Labs.

Fureydidn't answer, instead pointing to the importance of the nurses working in the system and the dilemma the health authority faced withstaffing.

"Do we use travel nurses or do we shut down emergency departments? Do we shut down surgeries? Do we shut down dialysis units, Mr. Speaker? As a result, we're faced with the decision of how to do the least amount of harm and the best for the most people in the province," Furey said.

"It's an unfortunate circumstance. It's one that no one wants to find themselves in."

Furey and nurses' union president Yvette Coffey met Monday morning. Furey said he gave Coffey his assurance that the government is "working hard toward ending travel nurses."

"We wanted nurses who are trained here in Newfoundland and Labrador to stay in Newfoundland and Labrador," Furey told reporters after question period.

"The reality is, right now, there's a market imbalance. There's a supply and demand issue."

Wakeham asked again if Furey signed off on the travel nurses contract and pointed to the frivolous spending within it, including money forcab rides, furniture, pet transportation and an air fryer.CHLalso billed the province $1.6 million inmeal allowances.

Fureysaid he didn't sign the contract and pointed tothe provincial health authority instead.

Wakeham asked Fureyto reiterate that the province's health authority signed a nearly $36-million contract without government consent.

Fureysaid his office isn't responsible for the contract and again pointed to the health authority for governingthe deal after "due diligence."

Health Minister Tom Osborne said everyone is "appalled with the cost" but there's still an issue with whether the contracts were followed to the letter. That's where thecomptroller general isinvestigating, he said.

Wakeham said he wants to see the details of the contract and who authorized what. He again called on government to bring in the auditor general to investigate.

Wakeham then asked Osborne if heor former health minister John Haggiesigned off on the contract.

Osborne said no, and pointed to Wakeham's time spent as CEO of the now defunct Labrador-Grenfell Health Authoritywhere Wakeham, according to Osborne,signed contracts for travel nurses.

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