Furey promises to release time spent practising medicine as government blocks his billing info
CBC
When Andrew Furey entered politics, his political opponents criticized him for continuing to work as a doctor, something he needs to do to maintain his licence.
Now, more than a year since he became premier, he says he will release information about how much time he's spending working as a doctor, even though his government is blocking the release of key details.
"I've done a couple of weekends on call and a couple over the Christmas holidays," Furey said Tuesday. He said he doesn't know off-hand how many total days he has spent practising but said he could provide it.
"I have nothing to hide here. I've been very open and transparent about it from Day 1, and I'm happy to disclose once a year or two what I did in the previous year."
In December, CBC News asked his office to provide exactly that information.
In a statement, the premier's office said, "He is maintaining his credentials as a surgeon to be able to return to practice after politics" but didn't say how much time that entails or how much he's billing for his services.
A spokesperson didn't respond to a request for more information.
According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons, he's required to work as a doctor for 120 days in a three-year period.
CBC News filed a series of access-to-information requests to find out how much he was doing.
The Department of Health initially refused to release how much he's been paid for practising medicine since becoming premier, saying the information is posted online.
Online records show in 2020/21 Furey billed $257,921.01, but that includes almost five months before he became premier.
CBC News appealed the decision to the provincial information and privacy commissioner.
According to a letter from the commissioner's office, the Department of Health didn't provide any justification for not releasing the information or provide a copy of the records, despite being required to by law.
It was only after the office said it would be writing a formal report that the department agreed to release the billing information.
Liberal leadership hopeful Mark Carney says he'd run a deficit to 'invest and grow' Canada's economy
Liberal leadership hopeful Mark Carney confirmed Sunday that a federal government led by him would run a deficit "to invest and grow" Canada's economy, but it would also balance its operational spending over the next three years.
The St. Anthony, N.L., Boys and Girls club is "starting to dream about what's possible to make the community even stronger" after its building was destroyed by a fire, said national CEO Owen Charters.
Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the 1993 Bill Murray film, is having its Canadian premiere in Sudbury., following stints in London and New York.
A vacant north-end Halifax building that was previously described as an "immediate safety risk" by a fire inspector caught fire early Sunday.
This is part of a series called Ann's Eye, featuring the work of Ann Paul, a Wolastoqey content creator. You can see more Ann's Eye pieces by clicking here.
Olivier Soumis's green canvas tent sits in the middle of the frozen St. Lawrence River, providing a stark pop of colour against the muted tones of the snow and the open water in the distance.
A debate over how to adjudicate Treaty 4 rights was at the core of a federal court hearing in Manitoba this week.
Kael Flynn is the scion of a Saskatoon fashion dynasty, but the 22-year-old is more concerned with perfecting his curveball than selling suits.
The Regina Humane Society celebrated its first year in its new building on Saturday.
Beekeepers in Alberta's Peace region are watching nervously as the threat of a trade war looms.
In a world of shrinking margins and shuttered breweries, the last thing the craft beer industry in British Columbia needs is a tariff pushing up the price of the humble beer can.
Hamilton and the surrounding area is under a winter storm warning as up to 25 centimetres of snow is expected to accumulate Sunday, says Environment Canada.
With snow hammering Toronto overnight Saturday, Environment Canada is warning that the heaviest snowfall is still to come and travel conditions could "rapidly deteriorate" Sunday morning.