(November 15, 2021) – David Brazil, Leader of the PC Official Opposition and MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island, says Premier Andrew Furey should commit today to getting to the bottom of what went wrong to allow the largest healthcare cyberattack in Canada’s history to happen in Newfoundland and Labrador’s healthcare system.

“The people of the province deserve answers and their information deserves protection. Hundreds of thousands of people affected by this attack, entire departments of our healthcare system are still not operating a full capacity, and employees within our healthcare system are potentially the victim of identity theft,” said Brazil.

“The people need to know how the next attack can be prevented. They need to understand how the healthcare system can be prepared for the next attack to minimize the disruptions we’re suffering today. A full, independent review has to happen.”

Brazil says Furey should publicly commit today to an independent, external review of this emergency.

“The people of the province need to understand how this emergency occurred and what can be done to ensure it never happens again. While the privacy commissioner is launching his review, an even larger external, independent review of this emergency needs to take place. I’d like to see it begin within the next 12 months,” said Brazil.

“The Premier risks being tone-deaf to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador with concerns over this emergency. It’s tone-deaf to the people added to ballooning wait lists. It’s tone deaf to every healthcare worker who is worried about their financial future as a result of their information being stolen. This is not what leadership looks like in a time of emergency.”

-30-
 

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca