Tories demand travel nurse cost breakdown
Health minister says he can’t ‘haul’ it ‘out of a hat’
Politicians are called a great many things, but Wednesday in the provincial legislature may be the first time any of them were dubbed “the Mad Hatter.”
Much like the classic children’s novel in which he’s found, confusion reigned for the first few minutes of question period.
Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham asked the premier why he was making cuts to nursing education.
It was soon learned, however, that no cuts were made.
Wakeham said his party was told the College of the North Atlantic cut licensed practical nursing seats, and was laying off 60 to 75 per cent of its nursing instructors.
Premier Andrew Furey said the government recognized there was potential for cuts, but “found the money” to make sure the seats remained.
‘FACTS MATTER’
Then Wakeham asked the premier if he could confirm that nursing students in Happy Valley-goose Bay have to fly to St. John’s on their own dime to get their required practical experience.
That was also untrue, according to Health Minister Tom Osborne.
It prompted Osborne to stand and state that it was becoming a pattern for Wakeham to ask questions that aren’t factual.
Nursing students are provided funds for travel and residence, and if that didn’t occur, the government will fix it, Osborne said.
“Facts matter,” Labrador Affairs Minister Lisa Dempster said repeatedly as she eyed the Tories seated across from her.
Wakeham defended himself, saying that his question specifically asked if the premier could confirm whether it was true.
CLIMATE CHANGE NOT N.L.’S BIGGEST ISSUE: PCS
Wakeham moved on to the carbon tax.
He asked Furey if he believes it should be axed.
“Yes,” someone among the Liberals said, although it was unclear whether they meant it. The provincial Liberals have so far only called for a “pause” on the tax, not its cancellation.
“We on this side of the House have been opposed to that,” Furey said, to which a Tory shouted, “You voted for it!”
“We want it stopped,” Furey said.
“It doesn’t work,” he continued.
“It doesn’t work from a policy perspective, it doesn’t work for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador right now,” he said.
Wakeham fired back. It was the provincial Liberal government that introduced it, and continued to support it as long as they were getting the money, he said.
“What will you do about climate change?” a Liberal shouted across the aisle at the Progressive Conservatives.
Furey said the carbon tax is a federal program.
“Federal! Federal!” shouted Women and Gender Equality Minister Pam Parsons, seated a couple of seats to Furey’s right.
“We tried to fight it,” Furey went on, adding it’s not “the right instrument for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians at this time.”
“Now it’s not,” huffed a Tory.
“I’ll remind the premier that he could have stood with us three years ago and voted against it,” said PC MHA Barry Petten.
“I’m not against climate change,” Petten said.
“I believe in climate change, but I stand up for the people,” he continued.
“It is not the biggest issue facing the people of the province. They’re worried about feeding their families — not climate change. That’s the number one issue.”
‘HE’S THE MAD HATTER’
The debate continued with Petten demanding that Osborne provide a detailed breakdown of exactly where the $100 million on travel nurses was spent. Petten wanted Osborne to do it right away, before the more fulsome auditor general report comes out in about 18 months.
“You can’t ignore this. This is over $100 million,” Petten said.
“How about Muskrat Falls?” Fisheries Minister Elvis Loveless gibed.
“The minister should know, he ought to know where this money is spent,” Petten continued.
“If not, we should put (in) someone else that will know,” he said.
Petten said Osborne should be able to say how much of the money was spent on furniture, taxis, vacations, and coffee, as examples.
Media coverage of the large sums spent on travel nurses was able to detail precise items on which the money was spent, such as on an air fryer for one nurse.
“I am trying to take the line of questioning seriously,” Osborne began in his response. “But if the auditor general needs 18 months to do this, and the member figures I can put my hands on the ears of a rabbit and haul those answers out of a hat today, then the member is living in Wonderland.”
The Liberals erupted in laughter.
“He’s the Mad Hatter,” Parsons quipped.