Politics

Newfoundland and Labrador reviews AI-guided government reports after citation scandal

Monday, 24 November 2025 11:39PM UTC

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

More on this

https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/pcs-to-review-a-i-use-in-government-commissioned-reports/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/pcs-to-review-a-i-use-in-government-commissioned-reports/ - The Independent reports that Premier Tony Wakeham has directed Government Services Minister Mike Goosney to review guidelines for AI use in government-commissioned reports. This follows the discovery of fake citations in a $1.6 million healthcare policy report by Deloitte. The Department of Health confirmed the inaccuracies and instructed Deloitte to verify the citations. Deloitte has not responded to inquiries but maintains the report's conclusions are valid. NDP Leader Jim Dinn criticises the use of AI in such reports, stating it undermines public trust in government efforts to address healthcare issues. The government has not yet addressed questions regarding potential refunds or policy changes concerning AI in third-party reports. ([theindependent.ca](https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/pcs-to-review-a-i-use-in-government-commissioned-reports/?utm_source=openai))
https://the-14.com/major-n-l-healthcare-report-contains-errors-likely-generated-by-a-i/ - The-14 reports that Deloitte's $1.6 million Health Human Resources Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador contains multiple citations that do not exist, raising concerns about AI-generated errors. Deloitte acknowledges the inaccuracies but stands by the report's conclusions. The company promotes AI technologies within its operations and with clients, encouraging the use of AI in clinical decision-making and resource allocation. The NDP calls for strict regulations on AI use in government reports, expressing concerns about public trust in healthcare decisions. The government has not responded to questions about potential refunds or policy changes regarding AI in third-party reports. ([the-14.com](https://the-14.com/major-n-l-healthcare-report-contains-errors-likely-generated-by-a-i/?utm_source=openai))
https://ntv.ca/news/ndp-calls-for-regulations-around-government-ai-use/ - NTV reports that NDP Leader Jim Dinn is calling for strict regulations on the use of artificial intelligence in government-commissioned reports. This follows the discovery of errors in Deloitte's $1.6 million Health Human Resources Plan, which was contracted to address staffing issues in the healthcare system. Dinn expresses concern that the use of AI in such important reports undermines public trust and the integrity of decision-making processes. The government has not yet responded to questions about potential refunds or policy changes regarding AI in third-party reports. ([ntv.ca](https://ntv.ca/news/ndp-calls-for-regulations-around-government-ai-use/?utm_source=openai))
https://vocm.com/2025/11/24/285574/ - VOCM reports that Deloitte, the author of Newfoundland and Labrador's Health Human Resources Plan, will report back to the government after several citations in the document were found to be fake. The Department of Health acknowledges the inaccuracies but maintains that the conclusions and findings of the report stand. Deloitte has committed to conducting a full review of all citations and will report back to the government with its findings. This is the second government-commissioned report this year found to contain false citations, following the Education Accord released earlier. ([vocm.com](https://vocm.com/2025/11/24/285574/?utm_source=openai))
https://news.conceptclarity.ca/2025/11/22/provincial-government-responds-to-deloitte-report-found-to-contain-false-citations-likely-generated-by-a-i/ - Downstream News Media reports that the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government has responded to Deloitte's report, which was found to contain false citations likely generated by artificial intelligence. The government has launched an investigation into the matter and has requested that Deloitte provide a full explanation for the false citations. They have also reached out to the individuals and organizations cited in the report to verify the accuracy of the information attributed to them. The government emphasizes the importance of accuracy and transparency in all reports and studies conducted on their behalf. ([news.conceptclarity.ca](https://news.conceptclarity.ca/2025/11/22/provincial-government-responds-to-deloitte-report-found-to-contain-false-citations-likely-generated-by-a-i/?utm_source=openai))
https://www.beritaja.com/deloitte-report-for-newfoundland-government-found-to-have-apparently-false-citations-beritaja-394382.html - Beritaja reports that the Newfoundland and Labrador authorities have asked Deloitte to review its activity after the institution submitted a study containing erroneous citations. A Health Department spokesperson says the consulting firm acknowledged the citations were wrong but stands by its 526-page staffing scheme for the province’s health sector. The department will take due steps once the contractor finishes its promised review of the flawed citations. The Independent highlighted several citations in the study that appeared not to exist. ([beritaja.com](https://www.beritaja.com/deloitte-report-for-newfoundland-government-found-to-have-apparently-false-citations-beritaja-394382.html?utm_source=openai))

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.

AI governance
government transparency
healthcare policy
public trust