FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 1998
Questionable appointment reinforces need for health board elections, says AFL
EDMONTON— The controversy that has erupted concerning one of the provincial government’s recent health board appointments in Edmonton highlights the need for elected boards, says Audrey Cormack, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour. "This is exactly the kind of problem that elections would solve," says Cormack. "As it stands right now, many of the seats on regional health boards are being filled with government cronies. Elections would give us boards that are accountable to the voters and board members who are more in tune with the priorities of the public." Cormack’s comments came after it was revealed that one of the new appointees to the Capital Health board – Robert Kinasewich – used to run a company that did millions of dollars in business with hospitals in the region. Health care workers have described Kinasewich’s appointment as a "slap in the face," pointing out that it was his company, K-Bro, which benefited from the decision to privatize hospital laundry services in Edmonton and Calgary. "This is a man who has had a close business relationship with the Capital Health Authority for years," says Cormack. "He was also at the centre of many of the debates over privatization in health care over the past ten years. Given this record, it’s understandable why some people might question his commitment to publicly-funded and publicly-administered Medicare." Cormack says there is a great irony in the Klein government’s decision to appoint Kinasewich and other Tory friends to regional health boards around the province. She points out that the appointments were announced at the same time that the Premier was lecturing the federal government on the need to elect Senators. "The word ‘hypocrites’ springs to mind," says Cormack. "On one hand the Tories are talking about the need to promote democracy in the Senate and on the other hand they’re ignoring the promise they made two years ago to introduce elections for health boards. I think Albertans should be disgusted." Cormack says the government should overturn Kinasewich’s appointment and make immediate plans for health board elections around the province. "These boards are making decisions that will affect the future of Medicare in our province," she says. "I think board members should be accountable for those decisions – they should be accountable to the Alberta electorate. The public deserves the right to elect people who will defend Medicare – not put it in greater jeopardy."
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