The Newfoundland and Labrador government is undertaking a review of artificial intelligence use in official reports following a scandal involving fabricated citations in a major healthcare policy document, raising concerns over accuracy and integrity in public administration.
In the wake of revelations that a $1.6 million healthcare policy report commissioned by the Newfoundland and Labrador government contained fabricated citations, Premier Tony Wakeham has tasked Minister of Government Services Mike Goosney with leading a review to establish guidelines governing the use of artificial intelligence in government-commissioned reports. This decision comes shortly after The Independent uncovered at least four non-existent sources cited in Deloitte’s Health Human Resources Plan, raising concerns about the integrity and accuracy of such government-funded studies.
The province’s Department of Health and Community Services confirmed the inaccuracies after consulting Deloitte, which acknowledged the faulty citations but maintained that the report’s overall conclusions and findings remain valid. The department has instructed Deloitte to conduct a thorough verification of all citations and the literature review within the report. This report, originally released in May, contained more than 100 occupation-specific recommendations aimed at transforming and strengthening healthcare delivery in the province.
NDP Leader Jim Dinn has been vocal in the aftermath of the scandal, calling for stringent regulations on AI use in government reports. Speaking to local media, Dinn described the use of AI to generate such reports as “disgusting” and warned it undermines public confidence in the government’s ability to address critical healthcare challenges. His concerns echo a broader scepticism about the application of AI in sensitive policy-making contexts, particularly when errors could have significant ramifications on public health decisions.
This controversy is not isolated. Deloitte faced a similar issue last month with an Australian government report, where AI-generated inaccuracies led the company to issue a partial refund. However, the Newfoundland and Labrador government has yet to comment on whether it will seek compensation or refunds related to the flawed Health Human Resources Plan.
The use of AI by consultants in generating government reports is a growing concern, especially as companies like Deloitte promote AI tools in clinical decision-making and resource allocation. The provincial government remains committed to ensuring the accuracy and transparency of third-party reports, and the new review spearheaded by Minister Goosney is expected to develop robust guidelines to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Furthermore, the government has reached out to individuals and organisations cited in the report to verify the accuracy of the attributed information. This is the second significant government report this year found to contain erroneous citations, highlighting the urgent need for clearer policies and oversight around AI use and fact-checking processes in commissioned work.
As more details emerge, the province’s approach to regulating the intersection of AI and government decision-making will likely influence broader discussions about the role of AI in public administration and policy development, especially in areas as critical as healthcare.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7] (The Independent, The-14, NTV, VOCM, Concept Clarity News, Beritaja) – Entire article.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, with the latest publication date being November 24, 2025. The report is based on a recent press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No earlier versions with differing figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data and addresses recent events, justifying a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from NDP Leader Jim Dinn and Premier Tony Wakeham are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a reputable Canadian news outlet. However, it is a single-source report, which introduces some uncertainty. The report references statements from government officials and the NDP leader, all of which are verifiable.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the Newfoundland and Labrador government’s review of AI use in government-commissioned reports are plausible and align with recent events. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The language and tone are consistent with typical government communications.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is current and based on a recent press release, with unique quotes indicating potentially original content. While The Independent is a reputable source, the single-source nature of the report introduces some uncertainty. The claims are plausible and align with recent events, but the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets is a concern. The language and tone are consistent with typical government communications. Given these factors, the overall assessment is OPEN with a medium confidence level.
