Wakeham Announces Plan to Deliver Better Healthcare For All of Us

 

[St. John’s, NL – September 16, 2025] – Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham today announced a part of his plan to deliver faster, more accessible healthcare for families, seniors, and communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.

 

“Newfoundland and Labrador has the worst healthcare in the country, with 163,000 people without a family doctor and over 8,500 people waiting for an MRI,” said Wakeham. “That is why our plan will deliver faster healthcare for all of us.”

 

To provide better healthcare for all of us, Wakeham said a Progressive Conservative government will:  

  • Adopt the recommendation of the Registered Nurses’ Union and launch a province-wide program that brings Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners to rural, remote, and underserved communities. This will reduce the reliance on out-of-province travel nurses.

  • Cover medical travel costs for patients when they must travel for essential care and provide free parking at all healthcare facilities.

  • Purchase and staff four new MRI machines for rural Newfoundland and Labrador. These will be located in Labrador, Grand Falls-Windsor, the Burin Peninsula, and a fourth location based on need.

  • Make sure anyone can see a nurse practitioner for free - with no strings attached.

  • Overhaul the system to train, recruit and retain more healthcare professionals. This includes adding 50 more spaces to the MUN School of Nursing, expanding the medical school, and doubling the Nurse Practitioner program. We will entice healthcare workers to stay in the province with paid work-terms, job offers at the beginning of their studies, and a tuition refund. 

“I’ve traveled to every region of this province and have listened to people tell me their stories. I have heard repeatedly that this election must be a healthcare election. After ten years, it’s time for a Progressive Conservative government that provides better healthcare for all of us”

Additional parts of Wakeham’s plan to provide better and faster healthcare will be outlined in the coming weeks. A detailed cost breakdown of these commitments is below.