Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s government “fired” the Alberta Health Services (AHS) president for their own political ambitions, NDP health critic David Shepherd alleged on Monday..His comments follow AHS Board’s announcement of Dr. Verna Yiu’s departure. The board also said it began the process to select a new president “several months ago.”.During her tenure, Yiu was frequently at odds with Kenney’s government, most notably when it suspended and eventually overruled the AHS’ COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers..“Why is this being done now, particularly given the concerning increase of COVID infection shown in wastewater data?” Shepherd said at a press conference..“It’s hard to forget that UCP members will begin voting on Jason Kenney’s leadership very shortly.”.Yiu departed more than a year ahead of her contract expiration date, which was extended for two years in June 2021. .UCP members will vote on Kenney’s leadership via mail-in ballots beginning April 9..Health Minister Jason Copping said the AHS board has been planning for “some time” to start the recruitment process at the end of Yiu’s “extended term.”.“The agreement with Dr. Yiu that the board announced (Monday) will bump up the timeline for the transition and help the system move forward,” Copping said in a statement..“It’s time to move forward with an ambitious agenda to improve and modernize the health system, and renewed leadership at Alberta Health Services will support delivering those changes.”.Copping’s statement makes it clear Yiu was fired, Shepherd said. The former president was targeted by the most “extremist factions” of the UCP, like MLAs who opposed all COVID-19 restrictions, he said..“It’s clear to me that Dr. Yiu put the health and wellbeing of Albertans first during an unprecedented public health crisis,”.Shepherd said..“Apparently, under the UCP that’s a fireable offense.” .And Yiu’s departure amid increased COVID rates shown in PCR tests and wastewater data creates concern that“depending on what may be required in this sixth wave, that this government is not going to make decisions in the best interest of public health,” he said..Shepherd also said Yiu’s departure pushes Alberta’s health care into “even deeper chaos,” with no replacement president. The AHS Board already appointed Mauro Chies, vice president of Cancer Care Alberta and Clinical Support Services, to serve in the interim..Wildrose Independence Party leader Paul Hinman applauded the ousting..“AHS President Verna Yiu is gone. That’s one down with many more appointed Board Members to go. Centralized healthcare does not work! Fire the whole AHS Board and decentralize. Wildrose will focus on reduced wait times with funding for service provided, not overpaid bureaucrats,” tweeted Hinman..In a statement, Yiu thanked her team and said she took the role in 2016 because she saw an opportunity to further solidify culture, teamwork, and excellence..“I believed that we could develop better relationships with our patients and families, and with Alberta communities.”.Rachel Emmanuel is an Alberta legislative reporter for the Western Standard
