In a farewell address to employees at Alberta Health Services, fired CEO Stephen Duckett claimed the government told him not to speak to reporters the day the infamous cookie incident unfolded.

"I have tried to be open and direct in my response to media," reads an excerpt from the speech, delivered December 6th. "But for the last few months media advice from government was for me to be less accessible."

The episode that ended the Australian economist's career happened the afternoon of Friday November 19th after AHS officials met to address new emergency room wait-time protocols. When Duckett emerged he refused to address reporters, repeatedly stating he was busy eating a snack.

While he admits he "made a silly mistake" and "deeply regret[s]" his flippant delivery, Duckett also emphasizes he was told Dr. Chris Eagle was the designated AHS spokesperson that day, and all questions should be passed on to him.

Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky denies ever advising the former health boss to avoid reporters, but admits he can't speak for his staff.

"Anyone can comment to the media at any time," he said.

"I've heard about this comment and I at no point indicated anything of that nature and I don't know who in government he may have been referring to."

Duckett suggested part of the reason communications staff asked him not talk to the reporters that day was out of concern questions would be asked about remarks made by then-Parliamentary Secretary to Health Raj Sherman.

"The media was really after comments from me about political not health issues," part of the address reads.

Officials with Alberta Health Services declined an interview Friday, saying it is not their policy to address comments made by former employees.

The politics of health care funding

In his speech, Duckett also addressed the difficulty of managing the country's largest health organization when funding is dictated by the government.

He says he was not told in his interview that he was expected to trim more than $1 billion from the budget.

"I've said subsequently to [AHS board chair] Ken Hughes that I should sue them for misrepresentation in not informing me about the financial situation as part of my recruitment," an excerpt reads.

"Imagine my feelings. I though I was going to a well-endowed health system."

Duckett goes on to say, however, that he believes the new five-year funding agreement is "fair." Still he cautions it "requires significantly tighter financial discipline than exercised by the previous entities."

The economist argued long-term funding is essential to successful health care delivery and credited the government with changing the financial parameters to make that a reality.


The Media

Duckett says his relationship with reporters was "fraught from the start," arguing health care coverage was often myopic in nature.

"The media along with politicians only see the short term and often fail to connect the dots," he said in his address.

"The immediate deadline and the quick attribution of blame drive the story."

One specific example cited was budget cuts in the fall of 2009.

"Not once did the media link back to the fact that the budget parameters were set by government and our job was to live within the budget government sets."

Duckett also revealed he didn't like the way reporters presented him in the public light, arguing his work to improve access and quality was too often overshadowed by financial decisions.

"The media created a Stephen Duckett I didn't recognize, portraying me as a one-dimensional budget cutter, a portrayal that still continues."

On a personal note

Duckett admitted he is grieving the loss of his position, but says he is also relieved to be rid of the stress.

"Since it is a time cut short and for me it is appropriate to mourn the might-have-beens, and the agenda I hope will be continued," he said.

While he relished in the challenge, he said he also found the 80+ work weeks "exhausting and stressful," revealing it took a toll on his health and family life.

He thanked the people who work with AHS, calling the organization the most supportive he's ever worked within.

Duckett also said he believes he instituted a number of improvements during his time as CEO, citing a stronger financial reporting system, better strategic direction and a firmed-up organizational structure as some of the achievements worth celebrating.

With Files from Scott Roberts