N.B. government rules against a public inquiry into travel nurse contracts
![Nurse Nurse](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/6/18/nurse-1-6931806-1718847970345.jpg)
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
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6554515.1694273739!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
28-year-old man dead in Saturday night shooting involving Edmonton police officer
An investigation is underway after an officer-involved fatal shooting Saturday night in the Fraser community.
Nude beach etiquette: Lose your clothes, not your manners
Most of us have felt the freedom and delight that comes with stripping down to a swimsuit on a sunny day and wading into a cool sea, the horizon twinkling in the distance.
5 ways to increase your happiness through exercise
Think back to when you were a kid and movement was instinctive — and often infused with pure joy. Maybe it was racing your sister and dad to the front door.
Creators urge Ottawa to force disclosure of ‘black box’ AI system training
Canadian creators and publishers want the government to do something about the unauthorized and usually unreported use of their content to train generative artificial intelligence systems.
She's still busy at 105. What secrets and science are behind Canada's 'super agers'?
There is ongoing research to better understand the relationship between social connection and healthy aging, and why the brains of super agers look different compared with their peers.
Long weekend exodus helps drive down Calgary water consumption as repair process nears completion
The city is entering the final stages of resuming water service through its repaired feeder main, as water consumption continues to fall below the city’s threshold level.
Several U.S. military bases in Europe on heightened alert amid possible terrorist threat
Several U.S. military bases across Europe were put on a heightened state of alert over the weekend, with the level of force protection raised to its second-highest state amid concerns that a terrorist attack could target U.S. military personnel or facilities, according to two U.S. officials.
As police increasingly use facial recognition technology, calls grow for regulations
Some police services in Canada are using facial recognition technology to help solve crimes, while other police forces say human rights and privacy concerns are holding them back from employing the powerful digital tools.
German police believe man who climbed arena roof during Euro 2024 game was a would-be photographer
German police said Sunday they believe a man who scaled the roof of the stadium as Germany played Denmark at Euro 2024 was a would-be photographer and they have no evidence he intended to hurt anyone.