The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Lela Evans, Minister of Health and Community Services:

Speaker, today I rise to recognize the week of May 11 to 17 as National Nursing Week and to celebrate nurses throughout our province.

From clinics and hospitals to care teams and long-term care homes, nurses bring a diverse range of skills and a deep compassion for the patients they serve, often working in challenging situations with the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.

Our government knows that to invest in our nurses is to invest in better health outcomes for all of us.

This is why we are proud to make investments to support nurses in Budget 2026.

Speaker, we are delivering on our promise to establish a provincial nursing travel team, staffed by local unionized nurses, to reduce our reliance on expensive agency nurses.

We are investing in expanding our nurse practitioner funding model to provide increased access to primary health care, with no out-of-pocket cost to patients.

We are making significant investments in the recruitment of more nurses, and in supporting the health and well-being of nurses who work in our health care system.

Last month, I also had the opportunity to attend the graduation ceremony of our practical nurses, who are beginning their nursing careers.

Speaker, I invite all Honourable Members to join me in thanking and appreciating nurses in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you.