According to the October report, there are now 116,174 people on the province's family doctor waiting list.

This number has increased by more than 5,500 people since September. Nova Scotia Health routinely publishes the number of patients waiting for a family doctor during the first week of each month and has been doing so since 2016.

During Friday's question period, opposition parties questioned Premier Tim Houston about why the province was late in releasing the October figures, as the report was delayed.

Regional Liberal leader Zach Churchill said, "Over the past eight years, these numbers have been released at the beginning of each month and we are now mid-month and have not seen them yet." "And (Premier Houston) refused to answer the question today, regarding why these numbers were not disclosed."

Nova Scotia Health released the October report on Friday at 2 p.m.

A health authority spokesperson said the report was delayed due to the two regional holidays and more delay in data processing.

Premier Houston did not respond to media questions following Friday's question period, but in previous statements, he questioned the accuracy of the numbers on the waiting list, suggesting the possibility of inflation.

The province’s health minister echoed that, noting there is a reporting gap, and the accounting process takes longer to remove patients from the list. But he also hinted that the Progressive Conservative party may end the list.

Michelle Thompson, Nova Scotia's health minister, said, "We will not be removing the list away now, but I believe there is an opportunity to review the list and see if there are increasing jobs in the future."

Claudia Chender, leader of the New Democratic Party, believes the province wants to get rid of the list to avoid public scrutiny.

Chender added, "I think what we heard today was a desire to no longer record this number."

Thompson said it's not so much about the numbers, they want to ensure that the people on that list receive care.

Thompson said, "We want to make sure that the people on that list receive primary healthcare."