N.B. government rules against a public inquiry into travel nurse contracts
The New Brunswick government says it won’t be creating what it calls a “second” public inquiry into what led to several multi-million dollar contracts for travel nurses.
A legislative committee made the request for a public inquiry after three days of hearings from the departments of health and social development and the two health authorities.
So far, the province has spent more than $173 million on travel nurses to fill gaps in the health-care system. Vitalité Health Network remains under contract with one private agency until February 2026.
In a letter to the Clerk of Committees at the New Brunswick legislature, the clerk of the executive council stated there’s “already been an inquiry into the issue.”
“The Government of New Brunswick called in the Auditor General to examine these contracts, and his findings are public for all New Brunswickers to see,” wrote Cheryl Hanson.
Hanson said the focus should be on how to manage the still-existing contract between Canadian Health Labs and Vitalité, saying the province wants to see Vitalité find a legal way to remove itself from that contract.
“An expensive, time-consuming inquiry will not make people remember things differently. We will therefore not be creating a second inquiry into this matter,” she wrote.
At the very end of the committee meeting on June 20, former Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said further information was required to move forward on the issue.
“Before we're all done, it's going to be about $340 million, of which about $280 million will be attributed specifically to Vitalité,” she said.
While Shephard acknowledged how difficult the situation has been for Vitalité, and patient and staff safety are “paramount,” she said she’s not “convinced” the problem had been fixed.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Communication issues, double standard for Lebanese-Canadians trying to escape war, says lawyer
Some Lebanese-Canadians are pressuring the federal government to implement emergency measures that would allow Lebanese nationals' family members a less restrictive gateway to Canada, citing more 'flexible' policies for Ukrainians.
Four arrests made, police officer injured in connection with protest at Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont.
Peel police say four people were arrested and an officer was injured following several protests in Mississauga and Brampton Sunday afternoon, including one at a Hindu temple that turned violent.
She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about a year ago. Here's how her condition was reversed
A year ago, Lorraine O'Quinn was coping with stress, chronic illness and Type 2 diabetes. Then she discovered a health program that she says changed her life.
B.C. port employers to launch lockout at terminals as labour disruption begins
Employers at British Columbia ports say they are going ahead with locking out more than 700 foremen across the province after strike activities from union members began.
'The best that we can be': Indigenous judge and TRC chair Murray Sinclair dies at 73
Murray Sinclair, who was born when Indigenous people did not yet have the right to vote, grew up to become one of the most decorated and influential people to work in Indigenous justice and advocacy.
3 arrested as protesters clash outside Hindu temple in Surrey, B.C.
Three people were arrested after duelling protests erupted into violence outside a Hindu temple in Surrey, B.C., over the weekend, according to the RCMP.
Musk PAC tells Philadelphia judge the US$1M sweepstakes winners are not chosen by chance
A lawyer for Elon Musk 's political action committee told a judge in Philadelphia on Monday that so-called 'winners' of his US$1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes in swing states are not chosen by chance but are instead chosen to be paid 'spokespeople' for the group.
Judge rules against Alberta casino, dinner theatre operator
An application to stay a receivership order of Mayfield Investments Ltd., a company that owns multiple businesses in Alberta including the Camrose Resort and Casino, Medicine Hat Lodge and Calgary's Stage West Dinner Theatre, has been denied by the court.
India's Modi, Canada's Trudeau condemn violence at Hindu temple near Toronto
The prime ministers of India and Canada condemned violence that broke out on Sunday at a Hindu temple near Toronto at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.