St. John’s, NL (April 11, 2025) – Barry Petten, PC Shadow Minister for Health and Community Services and MHA for Conception Bay South, says Acting Health and Community Services Minister John Haggie continues to dismiss frontline nurses by disputing the Nurses’ Union’s response to Budget 2025.

“Minister Haggie is questioning the numbers shared by the Nurses’ Union — but I trust their figures,” said Petten. “They know their membership, they know what’s happening on the ground, and they’ve been consistent in raising the alarm. This government continues to downplay the crisis they’ve created.”

During Question Period, Petten pressed Minister Haggie on what Budget 2025 does to protect nurses from workplace abuse and improve working conditions. In response, Haggie deflected with recruitment stats and said he was surprised by the remarks of Nurses’ Union President Yvette Coffey — but Petten says that completely misses the point.

“You can’t keep bragging about nurses coming in the front door while ignoring the ones walking out the back,” continued Petten. “Nurses are leaving because this government refuses to fix the conditions they’re working in. The problem is retention, and nurses are still being offered temporary or casual contracts, with no real support to address burnout or safety.”

Petten says after nearly a decade of Liberal government, with Haggie in the health portfolio for most of it, the healthcare crisis has only gotten worse.

“Nurses have had enough. Patients have had enough. And frankly, so have we. It’s time for real action — not more excuses from a tired government that’s clearly out of gas. John Haggie is the architect of this mess, and his nonchalant attitude regarding this serious issue just proves it. Nurses deserve respect from their government,” concluded Petten.