Image Credit: B.C. Legislature

By James Peters

BC Legislature

Milobar, Dix spar in question period over infamous former IH top doctor

Feb 9, 2023 | 12:19 PM

VICTORIA — The case of the disgraced former top doctor in Interior Health prompted sparring during question period in the B.C. Legislature Thursday morning (Feb. 9).

Earlier this week, Dr. Albert de Villiers was convicted of sex offences against a child that took place while he lived in Alberta, before he was hired by Interior Health.

Shortly after he was convicted Tuesday, IH confirmed de Villiers was no longer employed with the health authority.

Subsequent to charges being announced in June of 2021, IH placed de Villiers on paid leave for about four months. He returned to work in October of that year and was reassigned to administrative duties.

In question period Thursday, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar juxtaposed IH’s treatment of de Villiers with the supposed muzzling of healthcare professionals who wish to speak publicly about problems in their workplaces.

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“Under this government, hard-working doctors and nurses who speak out are facing swift justice and suspensions, but a vile criminal like Dr. de Villiers was simply reassigned and allowed to continue to work and receive pay,” said Milobar.

“Why does the Ministry of Health continue to foster a toxic healthcare work place my muzzling and suspending frontline doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals, while protecting employment of administration accused and then convicted of something as egregious as sexual assault of children?”

Amid a cascade of opposition hectoring, Health Minister Adrian Dix responded by saying Milobar’s conflating of the two issues was “disgraceful.”

“Dr. de Villiers has been convicted and he no longer works for Interior Health, as appropriate,” said Dix.

“People, of course, do have the right and will always have the right to speak out in our democracy,” he continued. “That right has been assured by legislative action of this chamber and they will continue to do so in our province, as they should.”

“We expect our public health officials to act with the highest standards, and they do, and we will continue to support people who need care in British Columbia with unprecedented measures to do so.”

De Villiers has a follow-up date in Court of King’s Bench in Grande Prairie next Monday (Feb. 13).