St. John’s, NL (April 4, 2025) – Tony Wakeham, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and MHA for Stephenville – Port au Port, is calling for key officials to participate in the upcoming review of the provincial budget estimates.

In a letter to MHA Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Chair of the Social Services Committee, Wakeham has formally requested that top officials from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador (MUN), the College of the North Atlantic (CNA), and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) be called as witnesses during the detailed review of their respective budget estimates in the House of Assembly.

“As we examine the provincial budget, it is essential that we hear directly from the leaders of key institutions in education and healthcare,” said Wakeham.

He emphasized that their participation would ensure a full, constructive, and informative review process—one that addresses the needs of students, educators, healthcare providers, and the broader community.

“These institutions operate at arm’s length from government departments and are not required to attend the estimates process, despite delivering essential services and spending taxpayer dollars,” Wakeham noted. “The most recent comments by the CEO of NLHS that discussions were ongoing regarding who is actually responsible for the licensing and monitoring of personal care homes is an example of why these institutions must be questioned throughout the estimates process.”

“It is our responsibility to hold the Liberal government’s decisions to account, and that includes scrutinizing the financial and policy choices of major agencies in healthcare and education,” concluded Wakeham.