(August 25, 2021) – David Brazil, PC Official Opposition Leader and MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island, says the Liberal government needs to demonstrate how it intends to compete with Nova Scotia’s promised doctor recruitment strategy.

“The healthcare crisis in Newfoundland and Labrador is greater than what Nova Scotia is facing. The difference is Nova Scotia is taking action, while Minister Haggie remains in denial. Even the NLMA is saying Haggie ‘refuses to acknowledge there is a problem’ in our healthcare system,” said Brazil.

“It took Nova Scotia’s new PC government six days to recognize what Haggie has ignored for six years. Haggie needs to demonstrate how he plans to recruit healthcare professionals to Newfoundland and Labrador or risk falling further behind our Maritime neighbours.”

Nova Scotia has almost double the population of Newfoundland and Labrador, but an estimated 70,000 people in that province without a doctor is considered a major crisis. There are 90,000 people in Newfoundland and Labrador without access to a family doctor.

Nova Scotia’s incoming PC government has promised a $55-million doctor recruiting campaign in response to their crisis, which the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA) fears will further harm our province’s ability to recruit doctors.

Brazil is calling on Premier Furey and Minister Haggie to reveal their plans to recruit healthcare professionals to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Paul Dinn, PC Opposition Shadow Minister of Health and MHA for Topsail-Paradise, says the healthcare crisis is the number one issue facing Newfoundland and Labrador, and it’s only gotten worse on Haggie’s watch.

“Haggie has been Minister of Health since 2015 and the healthcare system continues to deteriorate under his leadership. Almost one in five people in our province cannot access a family doctor, 24-hour shifts have become the norm for our nurses, and patients are being triaged from the back of ambulances because emergency rooms are overflowing,” said Dinn.

“Yet, Minister Haggie believes we are ‘flush’ with doctors, he believes care baskets can help with retention, and he doesn’t believe the crisis we can all see before our eyes. Enough is enough.” 

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) (709) 725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca