B.C. implements most recommendations made after Health Ministry firings: report

He said the major completed recommendations include: apologies and goodwill payments to people impacted by the firings, whistleblower protection legislation, a new policy regarding conflict of interest and an independent review of government dismissal policy.

The government contributed $500,000 to create a scholarship in memory of deceased former employee Roderick MacIsaac, who killed himself about four months after he was fired by the Health Ministry, Chalke said.

Chalke said in the “Misfire” report that most of the grounds cited for MacIsaac’s dismissal “were unsupported by the evidence and not true.”

MacIsaac, a university co-op research student, had been accused of jeopardizing privacy and the reputation of the ministry as he and others worked on a drug research program in 2012.

The total amount of payments to affected individuals amounts to $1.16 million, Chalke said.

“In relation to individuals, ex gratia, also known as goodwill payments, were made and both public and private apologies were made,” he said. “These amounts range from $15,000 to $125,000, depending upon the individual involved.”

The remaining outstanding recommendations involve financial impact assessments on disciplined employees who were not fired, union grievances for fired employees, payments to impacted contractors and reconciliation efforts to create a more positive work culture at the ministry, Chalke said.

He said his office will publish a further assessment of the implementation of its recommendations after the government releases its next progress report in April.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

B.C. implements most recommendations made after Health Ministry firings: report

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