the $35 million paid to a single agency over a five month period for the use of travel nurses in Newfoundland and Labrador was up for debate on the first day of the House of Assembly. Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham asked the minister “Who authorized this contract?” Health Minister Tom Osborne shot back, pointing out that Wakeham himself signed off on agency nurses. Wakeham: the expenditure on travel nurses used to be $1 million, not $36 million in five months.