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Newfoundland and Labrador 2025 provincial election

Responses from the Electoral Candidates
Responses are arranged according to the date we received them. The first response received in each party appears at the top of that section.

Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
Kristina Ennis – St. John’s West

From: Kristina Ennis – St. John’s West
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 7:49 PM
To: Cheryl Koehn
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Newfoundland and Labrador Election

Hi there!

Thank you so much for sending me this survey. I've passed it along to the party and they are working on a response.

I can confidently say that I personally am on side for increasing access to care, particularly around joint preservation.

If I may share two stories and ask you a question as well. I'm happy to share my experience as it relates to your work so I can understand the scope of what your roles are too!

I have an awareness of the pain arthritis can cause - particularly my younger cousin was diagnosed at 5 and our families are quite close. He spent childhood in so much pain and seeing a doctor in Montreal. He had his first hip replaced at 18, and his other in 2023 and it has significantly improved quality of life. But so often we hear people are told they are too young for a replacement - but if that means they have chronic pain, poor mobility, and

From the cost of living perspective, there's a lot of stress.

I myself broke my hip in 2022, found out I have dysplasia, had hip arthroscopy in 2024 in Ottawa and continue working hard to prevent arthritis or further damage - the catch is that I didn't KNOW that the hip pain I'd seen doctors for years before was not tight muscles, it was my joint. I have learned we have VERY little knowledge of hip health within our system. I know chronic pain in NL is a huge problem. We don't seem to focus on root cause - for example, I am fairly certain I have hypermobility for a WIDE variety of chronic issues and cannot find a doctor who will discuss it except for allied health professionals. They don't seem to understand that having a diagnosis impacts decision making for prevention purposes - or how to improve chronic symptoms.

My hip journey to prevent arthritis is part of my story that has brought me to put my name on the ballot again!

I know there is a lack of rheumatology in the province, and many arthritis patients become ortho patients. What is your opinion on access to a hip preservation specialist and if so, does our population warrant the need for such specialist based on our demographics? Do you feel the criteria of age should be a deciding factor of whether someone is a candidate for hip replacement, or should impact of the pain and quality of life (individual variables) should be the majority of that decision? I was shocked to learn we don't really fix hips here, mostly we replace them - unless it's urgent or related to a fracture. But no arthroscopy surgeries here for hips. Other joints, yes. Hips, no.

In any event, that's my question - joint preservation, do you think investment in this area from a preventative care perspective would be impactful to our population's overall health and wellness and aligned with our road map related to the NL Health Accord?

Thank you!

Kristina