St. John’s, NL (February 19, 2025) – Barry Petten, PC Official Opposition Critic for Health and MHA for Conception Bay South, today reacted to the latest news that the Furey Liberals have spent over a quarter of a billion dollars on expensive, for profit, private agency nurses.

Petten was reacting to media reports that the Furey Liberals have already spent over 250 million dollars on private agency nurses.  Furthermore, the plan is to hire more private agency nurses to staff new beds in transitional and long-term care at the former Western Memorial Regional Hospital.  This is to address a critical bed shortage at the new hospital.

“Just a couple of months ago we learned over 60 fully trained and qualified nurses from India are sitting home without jobs,” said Petten.  “The Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses Union now estimates a quarter of a billion dollars has been spent thus far on private agency nurses, which can be paid over $300 an hour.  Yet our office continues to hear from nursing students who have not been offered full time, permanent jobs.  It is simply unbelievable.”

“After almost a decade of Liberal Government, we still do not have a Health Human Resources Strategy.  It is no surprise then we have over 700 nursing vacancies,” added Petten.  “Unfortunately, while the Furey Liberals continue to celebrate every new nurse coming in the front door, many more are still exiting out the back.”

Petten said the time has come for real leadership to address these issues, and new Tony Wakeham PC Government will do just that.

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