Published October 8, 2025

Last Updated October 8, 2025

NLMA Releases Election Candidates’ Responses on Issues of Importance to Physicians

The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA) is releasing responses received from the political party leaders regarding their positions on health care issues of importance to physicians. The letters from each of the three leaders are included below.

In September, the NLMA reached out to each leader requesting their positions on several key priorities. The NLMA thanks the leaders for their responses and invites voters to read through their submissions to help make informed decisions.

We asked each of the province’s political parties to advise where they stand on the following themes:

• Protecting the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre
  • The Janeway must remain a dedicated pediatric hospital. We asked for a clear commitment that adult services will not encroach upon the Janeway, preserving its specialized focus on children’s health and rehabilitation.
• Upholding National Compensation Standards to Attract and Retain Physicians
  • Attracting and retaining physicians, by ensuring competitive compensation remains aligned with national benchmarks, is critical to ensure that Newfoundland and Labrador does not fall behind other provinces.
• Improving the Work Environment within NL Health Services
  • We must foster a supportive, safe, and efficient workplace for physicians and all health professionals, one where the physician voice is respected and valued.
• Overhead Funding Support for all Physicians who Provide MCP-Insured Services in the Community
  • With government now providing overhead support to independent nurse practitioners, we call for equitable support for independent physicians who provide MCP-insured services in the community.
• Commit to Universal Access to Family Physicians
  • Every person in Newfoundland and Labrador who seeks access to a family physician deserves to have one to ensure continuity and improved health outcomes through quality, longitudinal primary health care.

The NLMA will not be commenting on the specific responses from the leaders, but encourages the public to read them in full to help make informed decisions ahead of the provincial election.

The full, unedited responses from the party leaders can be found below (in order of receipt).