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

Newfoundland and Labrador PC Leader Tony Wakeham leapt at the opportunity to press the Liberal government on its spending on expensive 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 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."

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 the comptroller general is investigating, 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 he or former health minister John Haggie signed off on the contract.

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

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