Alberta is paying its well being administrator a whopping complete of $360,000 for six months of labor
Article content material
Dr. John Cowell, the official administrator of Alberta Well being Companies, is paid $360,000 for six months of labor.
Commercial 2
Article content material
The previous CEO of AHS, dr. Verna Yiu, was paid $573,000 for a whole yr, a price about 20 p.c decrease than Cowell’s.
Article content material
Mauro Chies, the interim AHS CEO, is paid at an annual price of $504,000.
That is for managing your complete system. Cowell’s momentary workplace position is to enhance this.
Cowell is the chief of the pay packet in many of the authorities. Besides at AIMCO, the place they play with actual cash, there cannot be many individuals near his stage.
“It isn’t unreasonable for Dr. Cowell to be compensated, like many consultants in lots of fields, at a better expense due to the scope of labor,” Scott Johnston, press secretary to Well being Minister Jason Copping, mentioned in an e – publish mentioned.
“For his six-month time period because the official administrator, Dr. Cowell receives $360,000 plus any bills in accordance with customary authorities coverage.
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
“The system was in disaster and whereas compensation could also be greater than earlier CEOs and directors, the pay displays the numerous time dedication wanted to make the required adjustments.
“Dr. Cowell, in his present position of a full-time administrator, works straight with the Minister, Alberta Well being and Alberta Well being Companies to speed up enhancements and repair the well being care system.
“Dr. Cowell supplies the pressing, efficient and well timed management that can enhance well being care outcomes for all Albertans.”
His bills included a $1,400 one-day limo journey from Calgary to Edmonton and again for the throne speech and a gathering with Copping.
In Cowell’s defence, the minister mentioned: “I recognize that $1,400 looks as if some huge cash, and it’s some huge cash.
Commercial 4
Article content material
“We’ve got dr. Requested Cowell to ship outcomes so we will repair the well being care system. It’s similar to different choices on that individual day.”
-
Braid: New AHS superintendent says he has full energy to behave rapidly on main issues
-
Alberta will increase well being funding by practically $1 billion in 2023 finances
Copping mentioned a return flight or in a single day stick with meals, and so on., would value extra. That is in all probability proper. A fast test of limousine costs means that Cowell even obtained a little bit of a deal.
However what many individuals hear about numbers like that is that they don’t seem to be like us, these folks. Within the improper context, a quantity like $1,400 will be much more damaging than a a lot bigger determine (say $360,000).
I’ve had loads of respect for Cowell over time. His work on the general public inquiry into improper entry to well being care was exemplary.
Commercial 5
Article content material
And now, as his wage stage clearly exhibits, he is likely one of the most necessary folks in your complete VKP authorities. On him rests your complete drive to kind out our troubled medical system.
If he succeeds, the UCP will take the credit score. If he fails, the blame is all his. A profession danger like that’s value a number of additional bucks.
However some factors are troubling on this intensely political time, with an election developing on Might 29.
On February 27, Cowell reported progress in EMS response, discount of crimson alerts and shorter instances for sufferers to see a physician in ER.
Cowell and Prime Minister Danielle Smith enthusiastically declared that the healthcare disaster was over. Many individuals within the system assume that is simply not true.
Cowell additionally supplied a rare promise. He mentioned ready instances for all surgical procedures, in each area, might fall inside scientific pointers by this time subsequent yr.
Commercial 6
Article content material
Cowell is an optimistic individual. He thinks it could actually all be carried out.
However when he made that surgical procedure promise, his phrases instantly seemed like a marketing campaign promise. He appeared as a lot a cheerleader as an administrator.
Many individuals within the system say the working objective is solely unattainable to realize inside 12 months. “It is all about folks, and the folks simply aren’t there,” mentioned one skilled in orthopedics.
A job like Cowell’s – a high-stakes, high-paying, high-profile restoration from entrenched issues – ought to at all times include an employment caveat.
Don’t stray close to the political flame. You’ll be burned.
Don Braid’s column seems frequently within the Herald.
Twitter: @DonBraid
Commentary
Postmedia is dedicated to sustaining a vigorous however civil discussion board for dialogue and encourages all readers to share their opinions on our articles. Feedback might take as much as an hour to seem on the location. We ask that you just preserve your feedback related and respectful. We have enabled electronic mail notifications—you may now obtain an electronic mail if you obtain a reply to your remark, there’s an replace to a remark thread you observe, or when a consumer you observe feedback. Go to our Neighborhood Tips for extra info and particulars on the best way to alter your electronic mail settings.
Be part of the dialog