St. John’s, NL (July 7, 2025) – Tony Wakeham, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and MHA for Stephenville–Port au Port, is calling out yet another example of the Liberal government’s reliance on expensive private agency nurses while qualified local nurses are being ignored.

In the wake of the Auditor General’s damning report that uncovered $241 million in mismanagement and potential fraud, Wakeham shared a new case involving a casual nurse from the west coast who offered to work but was rejected. That same nurse has since been contacted by a private agency to cover the very shifts they were previously turned down for.

“Have the Liberals learned nothing?” said Wakeham. “Why are we paying agency nurses $300 an hour when experienced local professionals are ready and willing to help? It defies common sense and is a blatant misuse of taxpayers’ dollars.”

Wakeham pointed to the Auditor General’s findings that 72 nurses were laid off, only to have their positions filled by agency nurses—at four times the cost.

“This scandal started with a call to the Premier’s Office,” added Wakeham. “What followed were tens of millions of dollars in lucrative, unmonitored contracts, all signed with no accountability. Public money was used to buy air fryers, milk frothers, luxury apartments, and even electric car rentals. It’s beyond reckless—it’s outrageous.”

“After ten years, it’s time for a new PC government that will work to provide better healthcare for all of us.”