The Sorry State Of Alberta Health Care
04/07/2009 19:15
Hi Don:
In the Friday edition of the Edmonton Sun appeared an article with the following heading:
"PENSION OUTRAGE - EX HEALTH EXEC
SCORES $268,908.00
A YEAR
'JACKPOT'
It was revealed that a former top provinicial health official along with executives was bought out after the province formed the Alberta Health Services superboard.
The former head of the Calgary Health Region will collect $22,409.00 a month for the rest of his life.
Another former health services boss, Paddy Meade, received almost $1.9 million in a payout after nine months of working as "executive operating officer contrinuum of care, for Alberta Health Services - the position she held from July 8, 2008 until this past March.
Also an interim chief financial officer at the former East Central Health Region collected more than $3 million after being bought out from her job that began July 8, 2008 and ended 31 March of this year.
It stated that the total amount in severance for the top executives is roughly $22.5 million.
You read the aforementioned and see the deterioration in health services in this province and one has to wonder where is it all going to end. In the past when top government officials are questioned re the ludicrous "deals" that are agreed to when it comes to financial pay for services, that we are told this is the price we have to pay to obtain top 'talent' - if this is so one must question the earlier individuals who were not even on the job 1 year. This also brings up the question - what is the 'cost' to the Provincial Government for the head of the new superboard who was brought in from another country?
We have from what I understand is a cabinet minister responsible for health services with a questionable education and poor communication skills calling the shots - with very little heard from the Premier regarding the continuing deterioration of what was once a workable service.
It just seems as though the government is operating like a sea captain - with orders are, "Full Speed Ahead, we don’t know where the hell we are going, but we sure are going to arrive somewhere in a hell of a hurry”.
George Proulx
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Yeah George, I don’t know many people who like either the health minister or that snide stare he gives Albertans.
It was revealed that a former top provinicial health official along with executives was bought out after the province formed the Alberta Health Services superboard.
The former head of the Calgary Health Region will collect $22,409.00 a month for the rest of his life.
Another former health services boss, Paddy Meade, received almost $1.9 million in a payout after nine months of working as "executive operating officer contrinuum of care, for Alberta Health Services - the position she held from July 8, 2008 until this past March.
Also an interim chief financial officer at the former East Central Health Region collected more than $3 million after being bought out from her job that began July 8, 2008 and ended 31 March of this year.
It stated that the total amount in severance for the top executives is roughly $22.5 million.
You read the aforementioned and see the deterioration in health services in this province and one has to wonder where is it all going to end. In the past when top government officials are questioned re the ludicrous "deals" that are agreed to when it comes to financial pay for services, that we are told this is the price we have to pay to obtain top 'talent' - if this is so one must question the earlier individuals who were not even on the job 1 year. This also brings up the question - what is the 'cost' to the Provincial Government for the head of the new superboard who was brought in from another country?
We have from what I understand is a cabinet minister responsible for health services with a questionable education and poor communication skills calling the shots - with very little heard from the Premier regarding the continuing deterioration of what was once a workable service.
It just seems as though the government is operating like a sea captain - with orders are, "Full Speed Ahead, we don’t know where the hell we are going, but we sure are going to arrive somewhere in a hell of a hurry”.
George Proulx
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Yeah George, I don’t know many people who like either the health minister or that snide stare he gives Albertans.
READER RESPONSE:
Don,
Re George Proulx’s email, “The Sorry State Of Health Care.”
Please don’t get me wrong. I really have no great love for Health Minister Ron Liepert, either. However, while regular Albertans may feel the need to take their rage over the present state of Alberta’s health care system out on Minister Liepert, please rest assured the Minister does absolutely nothing in regard to health care in the province of Alberta that does not have the direct and specific blessing of the Premier – Hon. Ed Stelmach.
Perhaps it’s time the farmer from Andrew, ‘Fast Eddie,’ actually came to and started to pay attention to what’s happening around him and what Albertans are trying to tell him?
Jim Starko
St. Albert
