Premier Andrew Furey and the Premier of British Columbia, David Eby, are holding a joint news conference in St. John’s today.
This comes following a meeting of Canada’s Premiers in Nova Scotia over the last number of days during which discussions centered around health care, housing, and climate change.
Premier Eby discussed what he calls the “devastating” impacts of climate change in that province, noting they spent $1 billion fighting forest fires this year as an atmospheric river caused devastation and a heat dome killed hundreds of people.
Eby praises the carbon tax for lowering emissions in British Columbia since 2017, despite an increase in population. He also unveiled a shirt, reading “I Love Heat Pumps”, referencing the recent program announced for Atlantic Canada and his hope that it will be extended out west.
Premiers Furey and Eby will speak to reporters at the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios this afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
(Premier of British Columbia, David Eby. Image via CPAC.)
SK and NL Talk Health Care Recruitment
Travel nurses and the poaching of health care professionals from one province to another were among the topics discussed at Council of the Federation meetings in Halifax this week.
Saskatchewan recently drew the ire of local officials after conducting a health care recruitment drive in this province.
It prompted an angry and frustrated response from Health Minister Tom Osborne. “If you come here, we’ll have to go there,” was his message to Saskatchewan as an NL recruitment drive was hastily organized in the prairie province.
(Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. Image via CPAC,)
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe addressed the spat after discussions with Premier Andrew Furey at yesterday’s Council of the Federation meeting in Halifax.
“How do we work together to actively build a stronger health care system nationally?” Premier Moe says that was the focus of discussion during this week’s meetings.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey
Premier Furey says there has to be a unified front in addressing health care vacancies, especially as it relates to limiting the use of so-called travel nurses.
“Because right now we have nurses moving from one province to the other… providing band-aid style care” which also “hurts the treasury of the province,” he told reporters. “That does not advance anybody’s care, nor does it advance the system.”
