(December 10, 2021) – Paul Dinn, PC Opposition Shadow Minister of Health and MHA for Topsail-Paradise, says he is alarmed over the reported conduct of Minister Haggie at the November 24th recruitment session with 70 soon-to-be family physicians at Memorial University.

The Newfoundland and Labrador College of Family Physicians wrote to the Premier on December 7th, stating that residents felt they were being “scolded”, “insulted”, and “disrespected” by the Minister. The College has received numerous complaints from the group and described it as an “unmitigated disaster.”

Dinn says, “The 100,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in our province that don’t have access to a family physician should be outraged by the Minister’s reported conduct. It is almost beyond words that amid a healthcare crisis our own Minister of Health and Community Services would derail the best chance to get more family physicians into the system.”

The College of Family Physicians also indicated that, “Significant harm has been done to the relationship between Family Medicine and the Government of NL.”

“The Premier continues to say he has confidence in his Minister of Health and Community Service which is astounding. The conduct of his Minister at this recruitment session isn’t the only ‘unmitigated disaster’ we’re dealing with – the Premier’s judgement to keep the Minister in his role falls in the same category.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca