Doctors' Agreement Details - QP
THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Nova Scotians want doctors - the ones I talk to - and yesterday the Minister of Health and Wellness pointed to last year's new doctors agreement as a sign of progress in addressing the doctor recruitment and retention challenges. What the minister didn't acknowledge was that a commitment made in this very agreement specified the provincial government has confirmed that details about the retirement fund will be shared by March 31, 2024. I didn't get a response yesterday, so I'm hoping the Premier will be able to answer. Was this deadline met and, if not, why not? I don't think this has anything to do with Ottawa but correct me if I'm wrong.
THE PREMIER « » : What we've done since we've taken government is work with health care professionals. We haven't fought with them. We negotiated contracts with them in good faith. We have worked with them. The idea for a pension for doctors, that's pretty innovative - it's not happening anywhere else.
The member may not be aware, but every quarter, I meet with all the health care leaders from all sectors in the province. We talk about a number of issues. We talk about a number of opportunities. There are a number of discussions happening with health care professionals at any given time. You know what? They're excited. They're excited to have a government that supports them and has their back. We will continue to do that every single day.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : The physicians and the Nova Scotians that I talk to are excited about the day, some day in the future, when they'll be able to stay and make a life here and actually have attachment to primary care. The Need a Family Practice Registry is growing. Over 160,000 Nova Scotians are not attached to primary care or have any kind of health home. Despite efforts to manage the list, Nova Scotia Health is internally preparing for a projected, unattached population of 200,000 within the next decade.
Meanwhile, despite inflated claims, last year there was a net increase of just 10 family doctors. How is the Premier going to attract and retain the number of doctors we need if he can't keep his promises to them?
THE PREMIER « » : The people who work in the health care system are hopeful for the first time. They see the progress, and they see what it means to have a government support them, unlike the last time Nova Scotians gave the NDP the keys to the province. You know what they did? They cut health care. Do you know what they did when faced with a report that there was a looming shortage of doctors? They ignored it.
Do you know what we don't do? We don't cut. We don't ignore. We invest. We build. We will continue to do that. I hear that the Leader of the NDP doesn't like political history, but you know what? Nova Scotians remember. They will be reminded, and they will hold to account.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : The people who are being held to account is this government, and apparently, they don't like it. Doctors Nova Scotia cautioned this government that it would not ratify the 2023 agreement without the commitment to give doctors concrete details about this promised retirement fund by March 31, 2024. We know this didn't happen, and we've heard from doctors that they still have no details about this promised program. In the words of Doctors Nova Scotia: "If this was a misunderstanding, it's a fairly big one." The shortage of doctors, especially family doctors, is one of the key issues facing our health care system.
My question to the Premier is: Can the Premier explain to Nova Scotians why he broke his promise to family doctors when we need them so badly?
THE PREMIER « » : As a matter of fact, the agreement with Doctors Nova Scotia - with doctors - was ratified. You know what else? Do you know how many other agreements were ratified in this province since we've been government in just three short years? Two hundred eighty-nine agreements - tough but fair - including agreements with doctors, nurses, paramedics, and teachers.
I could go on, but I just want to let this House know that we negotiate in good faith. We believe in the collective bargaining process, and that agreement was ratified because it was a good deal for Nova Scotians.