For Immediate Release
2 November, 2022
NL NDP Leader and MHA for St. John’s Centre, Jim Dinn, is angered that the Liberal government has introduced the Provincial Health Authority Act while the healthcare system is in crisis with inadequate briefings to elected officials to study the bill and ensure a robust debate. The act impacts the largest budgetary expense of the province and impacts thousands of workers. Opposition parties were given a briefing the afternoon of November 1st, 2022 for debate the following morning. The legislation itself was only distributed to opposition parties after NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn demanded its release during the briefing.
“Healthcare workers and patients across this province find themselves in the greatest healthcare crisis we have seen, and government is rushing through the Provincial Health Authority Act without proper consultation, and without following recommendations from Health Accord NL,” said Dinn. “We agree that the public healthcare system needs adjustments, but we cannot support upheaving the healthcare system while it’s in crisis, and healthcare workers are walking away from the industry.
“Without proper consultation with the public on this bill, and without review by legislative committees this government is fueling the healthcare crisis. Healthcare workers continue to shoulder the burden of the Liberal government’s careless approach to legislation,” said Dinn. “While this government is more concerned about which of their donors are going to build a new hospital, the NL NDP is focused on enhancing our public healthcare system and improving patient outcomes through proper consultations and crafting effective legislation.”
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For further information, contact Eddy St. Coeur, Director of Communications, NDP Caucus at 729-2137 (o), or eddystcoeur@gov.nl.ca