The Alberta health authority has fired its chief executive, as the government says the “renewed” leadership will help advance its plans to renew care in the province. Alberta Health Services, which is structured as a province-funded healthcare entity, announced on Monday the “departure” of Verna Yiu, more than a year before her contract expired. The contract of Dr. Yiu states that he would not be entitled to severance pay if he resigned. AHS spokeswoman Kerry Williamson confirmed that Dr. Yiu will receive a 12-month dismissal, as described in her contract. The dismissal agreement states that if the executive is fired without justification, he is conditionally entitled to a basic salary of one year. The annual salary of Dr. Yiu was $ 573,841 when her contract was extended last May to June 2023. “We are planning for a smooth transition,” newly appointed AHS President Gregory Turnbull said in a press release announcing his departure. Neither Dr. Yiu, who took over as CEO in 2016, nor Mr. Turnbull responded to messages asking for comments. As the coronavirus pandemic spread, some members of the ruling United Conservative Party argued that the AHS was to blame for the bent healthcare system because, according to politicians, its leaders had left hospitals poorly prepared and without intensive care. The government specifically challenged the vaccination order of Dr. Yiu against COVID-19 for AHS employees and contractors and eventually ordered the AHS to withdraw the decree. Dr. Yu occasionally participated in updates on Alberta’s coronavirus, providing obscure details that at times contradicted the government’s words and policies. AHS has appointed Mauro Chies, Vice President for Cancer Care and Clinical Support, as its “Interim CEO”. He also said he would soon appoint an “interim” chairman and chief executive. “A search committee was formed several months ago and the team started a search process,” the AHS statement said. AHS is Alberta’s largest employer, with a budget of over $ 15 billion and more than 80,000 full-time equivalents. New Democratic Party health critic David Shepherd has accused the UCP of politically interfering in Dr.’s departure. Yiu, linking it to the leadership review of Prime Minister Jason Kenney – although he acknowledged that he did not have strong evidence to support his claim. UCP members were scheduled to gather in Red Deer this weekend to vote on whether Mr. Kenney should continue as party leader. The UCP executive last month changed the rules, requiring members to vote by mail and allowing them to do so in May. “The dismissal of Dr. “Yu is an attempt to appease extremists within the UCP and entice them to return to Jason Kenny’s camp,” Shepard told reporters. Jason Copping, Alberta Minister of Health, issued a statement in response to interview requests. “It is time to move forward with an ambitious agenda to improve and modernize the health care system, and the renewed leadership at Alberta Health Services will support the implementation of these changes,” Copping said in a statement. The AHS Board of Directors “has been planning for some time now to start the process of hiring a new CEO at the end of the extended term of Dr. Yiu “and Monday ‘s announcement” will complete the transition timetable and help the system move forward. “ UCP wants to expand the number of publicly funded surgeries performed in private facilities. “We promised the Alberts better access to surgery and a stronger public health system with better access overall. “The pandemic changed the schedules, but it did not change the targets,” Kopping said. “These are multi-year commitments and we must move forward with them, with the support of the renewed leadership at AHS.” We have a weekly newsletter for Western Canada compiled by the heads of our offices in BC and Alberta, providing a comprehensive package of news you need to know about the area and its position on issues facing Canada. Register today.
