PCs accuse N.L. government of no longer tracking travel nurse spending

Travel nurses were back in discussion at Newfoundland and Labrador's House of Assembly on Tuesday, after the provincial government couldn't provide the cost of travel nurses working in March 2025.

It was prompted by MUN critic Matt Barter, who filed an access-to-information request and shared a letter from Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services that said no records were responsive to his request.

The health authority wrote, "The amount has not been calculated at this time due to other priorities within the relevant department."

With the province's history of spending millions of dollars on travel nursing, PC health critic Barry Petten questioned newly ordained Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell on the department's decision to stop tracking the number of travel nurses working throughout the province. 

"Why is the minister giving agency nurses another blank cheque?" Petten asked.

Despite not having the number at the moment, Howell says the province hasn't stopped tracking its travel nurses.

"We are certainly monitoring the use of agency nurses here in Newfoundland and Labrador," she said. "We do know that the reliance on agency nurses has decreased. We've been able to fill a lot of our vacancies."

Petten argued if the government is tracking those numbers, that information should be easily accessible. 

Spending on travel nurses gained scrutiny after a Globe and Mail report revealed the provincial government spent $35.6 million on nurses from private agencies within the span of just five months — April to August 2023 — and shelled out cash for travel nurses' training and cable bills, among other expenses.

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services spent $18.4 million on travel nursing in 2022. The following year the amount had increased to $90 million.

Howell didn't know why the latest numbers weren't available, but said she would get it for Petten.

He maintained the government stopped its tracking.

"We have tens of millions a month being paid out, yet the minister has no idea of the exact figure and doesn't even measure it anymore, even though I'm to be told they're going to try to find it," Petten said. 

"They're not tracking it."

The back and forth concluded with Howell citing the province's improvements in weaning off its reliance on travel nurses, adding the nurses are necessary in some parts of the province.

"I, for one, will not be responsible for closing a clinic because we don't have appropriate resources if a travel nurse is available," she said. 

"We still have to provide services to the people of this province, but we will do so in a manner that is accountable and that is responsible."

CBC News has asked Howell's department for the cost of travel nurses for March 2025.

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