The Furey administration is facing intense scrutiny after revelations that its flagship health-care strategy document contained dozens of fabricated citations. The embarrassing discovery has left officials scrambling to explain how non-existent research made its way into a plan meant to guide the province’s health system through critical reforms.
Last week, CBC News revealed that at least 25 citations in “The Way Forward: Reshaping Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health System” couldn’t be verified. These references, meant to support key policy initiatives, led to dead ends – journals that don’t exist, studies never published, and authors who appear to be fictional.
“This is more than just sloppy work,” says Memorial University public policy professor Dr. Jessica Halliday. “When government presents evidence as the foundation for major decisions affecting everyone’s healthcare, that evidence needs to actually exist.”
The province paid consulting firm Deloitte Canada approximately $1.2 million to develop the comprehensive strategy. Premier Andrew Furey, himself a physician, has ordered an immediate review of the document and the procurement process that led to Deloitte’s selection.
At a hastily arranged press conference yesterday, Health Minister Tom Osborne appeared visibly uncomfortable as he addressed the growing controversy.
“We trusted the expertise we were paying for,” Osborne said. “I’m deeply disappointed that basic academic standards weren’t met, and I’ve directed my department to review every recommendation to ensure they’re supported by legitimate research.”
Opposition leader David Brazil called the situation “absolutely shocking” and demanded the government pause implementation of any initiatives from the plan until a thorough review is complete.
“How can Newfoundlanders and Labradorians trust that any part of this plan is sound when the very evidence it claims to be built on is fiction?” Brazil asked during Question Period.
The controversy has sparked concern among healthcare providers already struggling with system changes. Dr. Sarah Collins, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, told me the citation issues create unnecessary doubt during an already challenging transition.
“Physicians want evidence-based policy, not made-up evidence,” Collins said. “We’re working in good faith with government on necessary reforms, but this undermines that collaboration and erodes trust at the worst possible time.”
The 118-page document, released with fanfare last October, outlined ambitious plans to address wait times, physician shortages, and rural service delivery. It featured colorful graphics and patient testimonials alongside what appeared to be robust academic citations – citations that now can’t be verified.
One particularly troubling example referenced a comprehensive study allegedly showing that centralizing certain specialty services would improve patient outcomes while reducing costs by 22%. The citation led to a non-existent journal article by authors who don’t appear in any academic database.
Amanda Wells, a community health advocate in Gander, says the revelation confirms what many rural residents suspected. “They’re making decisions to cut our services based on what? Thin air? We’ve been saying all along these changes didn’t make sense for our communities.”
Deloitte Canada has remained largely silent, issuing only a brief statement indicating they take “research integrity seriously” and are “reviewing the matter internally.” Industry insiders suggest the firm likely outsourced portions of the research to subcontractors or relied heavily on junior staff without adequate oversight.
A healthcare consulting veteran who requested anonymity due to ongoing government contracts told me this reflects broader industry pressures. “These massive firms are churning out reports at an unsustainable pace. The emphasis is on presentation and delivery timelines, not necessarily substance.”
According to government procurement records, Deloitte’s bid was not the lowest received but scored highest on “technical merit.” The province has not released the scoring criteria used in the selection process.
The scandal raises questions about how frequently government policy relies on unverified research. A 2021 study from Dalhousie University found that provincial policy documents across Canada often contain circular citations – referencing other government documents rather than original research – creating an echo chamber of evidence.
For Janet Murphy, whose 82-year-old father has been waiting 13 months for cardiac surgery, the citation controversy feels disconnected from the everyday reality of patients.
“I don’t care about fake footnotes,” Murphy told me by phone from her home in Corner Brook. “I care that Dad’s still waiting for surgery while they waste time and money on reports nobody can understand anyway.”
Premier Furey has promised a thorough review of the document and potential revisions to the health plan based on legitimate evidence. But rebuilding public trust may prove difficult in a province where healthcare access remains a top concern.
Memorial University political scientist Dr. Robert Hanson believes the scandal touches on deeper issues of governance and accountability.
“When governments outsource policy development to private consultants, they’re also outsourcing their responsibility to the public,” Hanson explained. “This case highlights the risks of that approach, especially in something as vital as healthcare.”
As the review unfolds, the incident serves as a reminder that behind the polished presentations and confident proclamations of evidence-based policy, someone should actually be checking those footnotes.
