FREDERICTON – The New Brunswick government has introduced a bill that it says would let the province terminate contracts for private nursing services.
In a news release, Health Minister John Dornan says the legislation would end a contract for travel nurses between the francophone Vitalité Health Network and Ontario-based Canadian Health Labs.
Dornan says the bill also aims to protect the province from legal action.
Last June, the province’s auditor general reported that between Jan. 1, 2022, and Feb. 29, 2024, Vitalité Health Network paid more than $123 million for private nursing services, including $98 million to Canadian Health Labs.
Dornan says the contract was costly and “unfair” to taxpayers.
He says the government is trying to recruit, train and retain more nurses in the public health-care system.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2025.
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