If people are drawing the wrong conclusions about the sa国际传媒 Liberal government鈥檚 firing of several Health Ministry employees in 2012, it鈥檚 because of the government鈥檚 continued refusal to explain.
If we are wrong in describing the government鈥檚 reactions to the scandal as heartless, cynical and politically self-serving, we welcome a full and sincere disclosure that would disabuse us of that notion.
This reeks of damage control. This reeks of irresponsibility. If it is unfair to paint the Liberals in such colours, they have provided the brushes and barrels of paint.
On Sept. 6, 2012, the government announced that four Health Ministry employees and a contractor had been fired and three suspended without pay on the grounds that they had used personal medical information without permission in conducting prescription-drug research. An internal probe had been started in May, and the RCMP had been asked to investigate allegations involving ministry employees and drug researchers at the University of Victoria and the University of sa国际传媒
A day after she was sworn in as health minister in the new cabinet, Margaret MacDiarmid expressed disbelief and shock, hinting at dark doings, but explaining nothing.
鈥淚 continue to be deeply troubled and disturbed by this,鈥� she said.
The affair continues to be troubling and disturbing. Careers were ruined or damaged; clouds were cast over professional reputations. One researcher 鈥� PhD student Roderick MacIsaac 鈥� took his own life in despair after his career plans were ruined.
Three employees who had filed wrongful dismissal lawsuits were exonerated and their suits settled. Two were reinstated; one, worn out from the ordeal, chose to retire. Official government statements expressed regret at the suffering the employees had endured and praised their work and reputations.
The grievances of three employees, including MacIsaac, were settled through the union.
Non-disclosure clauses in the settlements prohibited explanations, but those affected say they continue to be mystified about what prompted the firings, as no facts accompanied the government鈥檚 allegations.
MacIsaac鈥檚 sister, Linda Kayfish, appeared at a news conference with Opposition leader John Horgan at the legislature Tuesday and asked for answers and an apology.
It鈥檚 a reasonable request. It would be reasonable and compassionate of the government to reply with sincerity and truthfulness. The reply should not come in the guise of that kind of carefully crafted apology that has become so prominent among the political dark arts, the kind designed to smooth things over while dodging responsibility.
Two wrongful dismissal lawsuits 鈥� filed by UVic professor and researcher Rebecca Warburton and her husband, William Warburton, a labour and health economist 鈥� are still pending. It would be interesting to see those lawsuits proceed 鈥� information the government has suppressed would have to be brought out in a trial.
Yet private citizens shouldn鈥檛 have to drain their bank accounts to fight the government on our behalf, to make public information that belongs to the public.
The expressions of regret and the willingness of the government to settle the lawsuits and grievances seem to be a tacit admission that it made a mistake. It seems obvious that the gag orders accompanying those settlements are for the benefit of the government, not the employees.
It appears someone in the Health Ministry made a horrible mistake that turned into a cascade of blunders, all compounded by an unwillingness to come clean, admit errors and try to repair the damage. It speaks of an entrenched culture more concerned with protecting its own than about doing what is right and honourable.
If we have drawn the wrong conclusions, we are more than willing to be set right. If this is all smoke and no fire, it鈥檚 up to the government to explain where the smoke came from.
