For Immediate Release
June 18, 2024
NDP Leader, Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) says the Liberal government’s refusal to understand what drove social workers to quit in this province is fueling the crisis in health care. Dinn says it’s time the Liberals stop using other jurisdictions as an excuse and get a handle on why the province is failing to retain workers. Dinn raised the issue in April during Budget debate.
“People in the province don’t want to hear ‘well it’s an issue across the country’,” said Dinn. “That’s not serving the public, that’s a lazy excuse. If that’s their response, the Liberals are telling all of us that they’re in over their heads and don’t know how to handle the situation.”
Dinn says a solution is to include exit interviews in the process and use those opportunities to get at the root of the issues. Dinn says that each time a social worker resigned was a chance to understand and take action to improve retention in health care.
"It's one thing to talk to the people who are staying, but having those conversations with the people who are leaving is also a necessity,” said Dinn. "What is it the private sector is giving them that the public sector is not? We must find out what’s driving them from the profession."
“The Liberals are afraid to ask the questions or hold exit interviews because it would mean they could no longer shrug their shoulders and say it’s a national issue,” Dinn said. “While other provinces may be experiencing similar challenges, our people don’t live in those provinces. This government has been aware of the problems and they are not addressing it. The people of Newfoundland and Labrador deserve better.”
-30-
For further information, contact Eddy St. Coeur, Director of Communications, NDP Caucus at 709.729.2137 (o), or eddystcoeur@gov.nl.ca
Comments