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

PC Leader Tony Wakeham leapt at the opportunity to press the Liberal government on its spending on expensive travel nurses inside the House of Assembly Monday, as politicians gathered for the start of the spring session.

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

The news, first reported by The 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.

Furey didn't answer, instead pointing to the importance of the nurses working in the system and the dilemma the health authority faced with staffing.

"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 for cab rides, furniture, pet transportation and an air fryer. CHL also billed the province $1.6 million in meal allowances.

Furey said he didn't sign the contract and pointed to the provincial health authority instead. 

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

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