Alberta’s shambolic health-care system is once again in flux. The CEO of Alberta Health Services, the agency that manages a large part of that province’s health care, is gone.
Dr. Verna Yiu, a well regarded kidney-disease specialist, has quit, resigned, left or been fired, depending on who you listen to. NDP health critic David Shepherd says Yiu was fired because she was targeted by the extreme right wing of Alberta’s governing United Conservative Party.
Apparently, Yiu was unpopular in rural circles for her strong advocacy of COVID mask mandates, a stance UCP MLA Dan Williams likened to holding “a knife to the throat” of remote communities.
The thinking behind this scenario is that Premier Jason Kenney, who’s currently undergoing a hostile leadership review, wanted to placate his party’s right wing.
Whatever the real story may be, Yiu is only the last in a string of CEOs at Alberta Health Services to leave early.
When AHS was first set up in 2008 (more of that in a moment), the first CEO, Dr. Stephen Duckett, lasted a bare 18 months. He was dismissed supposedly for refusing to answer a reporter’s question because he was “eating a cookie.”
He brandished the offending comestible to make his point.
Duckett’s own version was that he had been told not to answer politically oriented media inquiries. Three board members followed him out the door, protesting political interference in the board’s activities.
Duckett was replaced by Dr. Chris Eagle, who left after three years. He was followed by Vickie Kaminski, who was gone after 18 months.
Then followed Verna Yiu, now also departed.
This revolving-door approach to managing has dogged the province’s health-care system.
In the early 1990s, then-premier Ralph Klein abolished some 250 hospital, long-term care and public-health boards, replacing them with 17 regional health authorities.
This made some kind of sense. In a time of intense budget cutting, few if any of these small independent agencies had the in-house expertise to achieve the required economies. B.C. adopted a similar model, as did most other provinces.
In 2004, those 17 boards were reduced to nine. Again, this made a degree of sense. It was asking a lot of 17 separate health authorities to manage the significant downsizing then underway.
However, in 2008, the province blew up all nine boards and replaced them with one single authority, Alberta Health Services. And this made no sense.
The point of regionalization was to maintain some degree of sensitivity to the differing needs of urban and rural communities. This important function was lost by consolidating the entire delivery system in just one set of hands.
Moreover, if you’re going to centralize operations in this way, why not just dump them in the Health Ministry? As it is, you have two competing bureaucracies with roughly similar mandates, constantly vying for supremacy.
And it didn’t end there.
At the outset, the province’s hospital labs were in public hands. Then some were privatized. Then brought back into public hands. Then privatized again.
Adding to the disarray, in 2013, the health minister fired the entire board of Alberta Health Services, and appointed an administrator. Five senior executives were then dismissed. Six months later, that administrator was replaced. Two more followed in rapid succession.
In this manner, a succession of Alberta governments brought the province’s health-care system to its knees.
Moreover, the motivation for these constant changes was entirely political. No respectable rationale was ever presented for the endless pandemonium imposed upon the system.
If you’re wondering why Kenney has the worst approval rating among the premiers for his handling of the COVID crisis, look no further.
New Brunswick voters have elected a Liberal majority government, tossing out the incumbent Progressive Conservatives after six years in power and handing the reins to the first woman ever to lead the province. Liberal Leader Susan Holt spent much of the campaign rolling out proposed fixes for a health-care system racked by a doctor shortage, overcrowded emergency rooms and long wait-times. She promised to open 30 community health clinics across the province by 2028. (Oct. 22, 2024)
Susan Holt has made history in New Brunswick by becoming the first woman to serve as the leader of the province’s Liberal Party, a significant milestone in the province’s political landscape. Holt’s leadership victory signals a new era of representation, gender equality, and change in the region, which has long been dominated by male politicians.
Holt’s journey to the top has been one of perseverance and dedication. Before entering politics, she built a distinguished career in the private sector, where she held numerous leadership positions. Her experience in business development and public policy has equipped her with the skills needed to navigate the complex world of politics.
In a province where women have historically been underrepresented in politics, Holt’s election represents a watershed moment. Women’s involvement in leadership roles has been steadily increasing nationwide, but New Brunswick, like many parts of Canada, has seen slower progress in achieving gender parity. Holt’s rise to the top of the Liberal Party not only shatters a glass ceiling but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of women aiming for political leadership.
As the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party, Holt has laid out a vision of inclusivity and progress. Her policies focus on economic development, healthcare reform, environmental sustainability, and addressing social issues that have plagued the province. She has also emphasized the importance of transparent governance and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities, making her platform both modern and forward-thinking.
Holt’s leadership arrives at a time when many voters are calling for change, especially in the face of challenges like economic uncertainty and the need for healthcare improvements. She aims to bring fresh ideas to tackle these issues while ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their background, have a voice in government decisions.
Susan Holt joins the ranks of other trailblazing women across Canada who have led provincial parties and governments. Women like former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne have paved the way, and now Holt is contributing to this growing legacy of female political leadership in Canada.
Her achievement highlights not only the growing number of women entering politics but also the demand for leaders who can bring diverse perspectives to the table. In a field often dominated by entrenched traditions, Holt’s election is a step toward a more inclusive and representative political landscape in New Brunswick.
Holt’s leadership signals a broader shift in Canadian politics, where more women and diverse voices are gaining prominence. For young women across the country, her rise serves as a powerful reminder that leadership roles are within reach, even in traditionally male-dominated spheres.
With her election, Susan Holt has proven that perseverance, skill, and a vision for change can break even the toughest barriers. Her leadership will not only reshape New Brunswick’s political future but also inspire others across Canada to pursue leadership positions and continue to challenge the status quo.
NDP Leader Carla Beck has two planned campaign events today, starting the day with an availability in Moose Jaw and then later this evening attending an event in the capital with the Regina Medical Staff Association.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, meanwhile, will speak in Prince Albert at the start of Voting Week in the province.
Saskatchewan residents can vote for five days starting today in the lead-up to next week’s provincial election, although polls won’t be open Sunday.
The NDP and the Saskatchewan Party are urging voters to cast their ballots early.
Voters can find their polling stations on their information cards or by visiting the Elections Saskatchewan website.
Chief electoral officer Michael Boda says there are about 810,000 registered voters in Saskatchewan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
