Former top health official Sheila Weatherill, who raked in almost $2 million in a retirement package, is among five new board members appointed by Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky to be part of Alberta Health Services (AHS). The appointments come nearly three months after four members resigned from the board.
"Sheila has submitted a request to help out and I've accepted that request as has the chair of the AHS board because she is just so talented, so capable," said Zwozdesky.
Weatherill, made headlines in 2008 when she and a number of other top health executives were fired when Alberta Health Services cleaned house and downsized its leadership team. The former president and CEO of Capital Health took home $3.4 million in severance and pension, which has caused critics to talk.
"People that have been paid out so handsomely by taxpayers far beyond what I think is appropriate are not the appropriate people to be sitting on this board," said NDP Leader Brian Mason.
Weatherill has declined the $45,000 honourarium and will instead work for only $1.
"She's working for free and I think that's because they realize there's a perception problem," said Mason.
Mark Ammann with the Alberta Health Law Institute says it doesn't look good to bring someone back after paying them so much to leave.
"I think the optics are quite bad," he said.
Although, Ammann says the board has been criticized in the past for having a lack of health expertise.
"And for not having experienced member and to a certain extent, this may mitigate that concern," he said.
The other new board members include: former president and CEO of the Alberta Mental Health Board Ray Block, Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai who has worked as a cardiologist, researcher, and professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, councillor with the Municipal District of Taber Don Johnson, and professor of medicine at the University of Calgary Dr. Eldon Smith.
Block has said he will also work for only $1 until his pension runs out, which is believed to be later this year. Then, it's expected he will take some form of the honourarium.
Back in November, Toronto doctor Andreas Laupacis was the fourth AHS board member to resign.
Prior to that, Edmonton board member Tony Franceschini and Calgary member Linda Hohol both confirmed they had submitted their resignations.
Laupacis believed the health minister's involvement violated the board's independence following the dismissal of Dr. Stephen Duckett.
Two-year Red Deer board member Gord Bontje was the first member to resign.
Zwozdesky admitted to weighing in the decision.
The health minister has said he will not be getting involved in the process of finding a new CEO for AHS.
The chairman of Alberta Health Services Ken Hughes admitted Duckett's unusual exchange with reporters that made headlines around the world back in the fall influenced the board's decision to dismiss the CEO and president.
Duckett became a hot topic in Edmonton and around the world after a 2-minute and 13-second exchange with reporters, including CTV, in which he refused to answer questions about health care reforms -- because he was eating a cookie.
And that unusual encounter influenced the 14-member of Alberta Health Services to boot Duckett.
Dr. Chris Eagle has stepped in as the acting CEO.
With files from Jessica Earle
