In 2021, the Liberals made a promise on their campaign trail: Newfoundland and Labrador will get an in-vitro fertilization clinic.
"The Furey Government will support people who want to have children and help reduce current obstacles, by working with stakeholders to increase access to fertility treatments and enable IVF services in the province,” Furey said in a news release at the time.
No IVF clinic; report coming
It's been over three years. The province still doesn't have an IVF clinic, and Health Minister Tom Osborne won't say if a clinic has the potential to benefit the province.
Instead, a fertility service review is coming.
"I feel that we can do a better job of providing services, but again, to avoid a political decision on this we've asked for an independent report to inform us of what can be supported," Osborne said.
The department aims to make an informed decision following the report's findings.
SaltWire asked if Osborne would be willing to pursue an IVF clinic if that's what the report recommends.
He didn't say yes.
He also didn't say no.
His response:
"It's certainly something that I have an interest in making sure that we provide the best service we are able to provide to individuals who are experiencing fertility issues," Osborne said.
Liberal party message
SaltWire requested an interview with the premier to discuss the issue of fertility care in the province and follow up on the 2021 election promise.
His office declined an interview. Furey's communications director said their messaging would be the same as the Department of Health and Community Services.
Osborne's message: He understands the issue. He understands the challenge of those experiencing infertility, and he understands the desire for improved services.
"It is something that I've taken an interest in ensuring that we have the best service that we can provide in a sustainable way within the province," Osborne said.
'Not just a delay'
NDP MHA for Torgnat Mountains, Lela Evans, is reminding the province that delaying an IVF clinic has a human impact.
"A delay is not just a delay. That's months and years of families or individuals waiting to start their family," Evans said.
The NDP in Newfoundland and Labrador has been pushing the provincial government to live up to the commitment made on their 2021 campaign trails.
An IVF clinic is important because, without it, individuals are paying up to $30,000 for one cycle of IVF treatment that must take place out of the province, she pointed out.
Many people go through multiple rounds.
The province's PC party did not interview or provide a statement to SaltWire about fertility care by the publication deadline despite multiple requests starting on April 5, 2024.
IVF referrals & cost
Every year, 70 to 110 St. John's Metro region residents are referred for IVF treatment, according to Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS).
While the province does offer a $5,000 fertility subsidy that can be utilized three times, totalling $15,000 for treatments throughout one's life, Evans said the subsidy isn't enough.
If three rounds of IVF cost $30,000 each, in addition to travel expenses, she said individuals could face up to $100,000 in personal expenses.
"That's a mortgage," Evans said.
"A delay is not just a delay. That's months and years of families or individuals waiting to start their family."
— Lela Evans, NDP MHA for Torgnat Mountains
Along with N.L.'s declining population, Evans believes an investment in IVF and fertility care is necessary for a successful future.
"There's so much investment and so much resources put into attracting people to our province through immigration, recruitment and things like that," she said.
"We have people within our province, our residents who are trying to actually have a family, and they're going through all these barriers."
The NDP would like to increase the fertility subsidy and develop a travel subsidy to help people receive treatment.
'Not surprised'
In the meantime, Evans is not surprised that the Liberals haven't lived up to their campaign promise.
"My party is also not surprised because we see the trend across the different government departments," she said.
Evans said they are doing the same thing with the sexual assault nurse examiner program.
"Delay after delay, stall after stall, year after year, we're asking where this program is… there's so much similarity," she said.
"'Oh, we got a consultant hired to study, to draft report and we're going to wait on any decisions'. So they wait to take that intial step and they drag it out and then we see them taking the steps, but of course, there's a lag there. The recommendations don't even mean that they're going to actually do any work."
Evans pointed to Budget 2024 and said there was no money allotted for fertility care.
"We'll probably have another election before they do any work on what they promised in the last election," she said.
