Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions today for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I would like to ask some questions of the Minister of a situation that occurred over the summer that caused me some concern. It was a communication issue.
Here at the Assembly we have communications protocols. We have a number of protocols, and communications is one of them. Usually they work. It gives Members from both sides of the House advance notice of things that are going to be happening.
I’m referencing the appointment of a new chief executive officer for Stanton Territorial Hospital. The fact that we hired a new CEO prior to the current CEO leaving was a really good thing and I was very pleased to see that, but I was extremely surprised that the press release announcing the hiring of Ms. Fitzgerald arrived to Regular Members at the same time that it went to the general public. In my mind, the Minister of Health and Social Services is ultimately responsible for all health authorities, for staff and so on. I have to assume that he surely knew that this announcement was coming. My mind then goes to why were MLAs not advised, if not all MLAs, at least Yellowknife MLAs, at least the Standing Committee on Social Programs.
I would like to ask the Minister what is the process for a health authority, whether it is a health authority with a board or a health authority with a public administrator, what is the process for them to communicate the hiring of their most senior employee to both the public and to the Minister? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The current process right now as it stands is that various health and social services authorities and the one agency is responsible for releasing information on hiring of the CEO for their authorities. Thank you.
Thanks to the Minister for that clarification. I’m quite surprised at that. We provide them, through the Assembly, the Minister provides money to health authorities for their operations. All the employees are employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories. I am really surprised that we allow these authorities to have that much autonomy. They certainly don’t in many other areas.
As I said, I think the Minister is ultimately responsible for these authorities. It seems to be the way that the legislation reads. I would like to ask the Minister when he was aware that the new CEO had been hired for Stanton Territorial Hospital. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I became aware of the name shortly before the press release had occurred. Unfortunately, during the time when the decision was being made, we were in Ulukhaktok at the Caucus meeting. From Ulukhaktok, I then went south immediately, and that press release occurred on the day that I travelled to southern Canada.
The information is not given to me until the decision is made. I knew that we were seeking a CEO. I knew that. The deputy kept me advised that they were interviewing individuals, and the process was that once the decision was made, I would be advised. At this time I was advised just prior to the press release, but I was not aware that the press release was going to be going out on that type of schedule. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Minister. I have to reiterate, I think the Minister knows the importance of health and social service authorities and the operations of our health and social services system to Regular Members and particularly for a Yellowknife facility like the hospital to Yellowknife Members. We live closest to that facility, so it is part of our community.
The Minister said that he knew the name but we were at Caucus. I think certainly there was an opportunity for him to advise the Members who were at least at Caucus that this was happening. There was an opportunity to send an e-mail to all Members to say this is going to be released soon.
I would like to know from the Minister why he basically bypassed our communications protocol. Does he really think that it should be up to health authorities to make this communication as opposed to himself? Thank you.
Yes, I do think it’s the responsibility of the board or the public administrator of the health authority to do a press release. The timing I guess is something that has to be sorted out. Obviously, it has caused some issue with the timing of the release. In the future when there are other CEOs that are being contemplated or hired in the various authorities, we can find a way added into the process to advise the MLAs, all MLAs or the Assembly. Usually that’s what we try to do. As I said, it’s just an unfortunate thing that had occurred. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. I do agree that it was unfortunate, and I don’t believe that it’s a situation that should happen again. I appreciate the Minister’s comments that maybe it shouldn’t happen again.
He’s suggesting that he’s going to set something in place. I’d like to know from the Minister when we can expect some communication from his office as to the new system that will be in place so this doesn’t happen again. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I’m having a meeting with the JLC, Joint Leadership Council of all authorities, on the 13th and 14th. We’ll discuss it at that time. It should be soon after that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
