This doesn't sound good. We will have to wait and see what happens next.
Province suspended 'whistleblowers': union
Last Updated: Thursday, April 5, 2007 | 5:54 PM CT
CBC News
The Saskatchewan government has suspended "whistleblowers" who raised the alarm about alleged financial irregularities, a government employees union says.
On Wednesday, the Community Resources Department said it has disciplined two unionized managers and a third, non-union manager in the wake of discovering about $26,000 in missing money.
One employee in the department's finance branch has been fired.
According to Community Resources deputy minister Duncan Fisher, the managers were disciplined for "insufficient monitoring of controls and oversight to ensure controls were in place and processes followed."
However, Saskatchewan Government Employees Union president Bob Bymoen said Thursday the two unionized managers are "whistleblowers" — the very ones who brought the missing money to the attention of the department.
It's ironic that the government has accused the managers of not following procedure while not following its own rules when it disciplined them, he said.
The employees were asked to answer questions, but were suspended before they had time to answer, Bymoen said.
The government said it won't discuss this case publicly, adding there are rules in place for dealing with labour disputes such as this and it will follow those procedures.
Showing posts with label whistleblowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label whistleblowers. Show all posts
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Alberta Medical Assoc. stands by whistleblower colleague.
Actually the complaint against O'Connor seems to be his "reward" for being a whistleblower. It is good that the Alberta Medical Association at least supports him.
The complaint really has nothing to do with his medical practice per se. Even if he exagerrates the situation the very fact that Health Canada reacts with a complaint creates suspicions. As the natives mention they have raised the same concerns for ages. Maybe Health Canada should sanction the natives somehow!
Alberta doctors support outspoken peer
Last Updated: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 | 12:11 PM MT
CBC News
The Alberta Medical Association has passed a unanimous motion supporting a doctor at the centre of an environmental controversy in northern Alberta.
In February, Health Canada officials filed a complaint against Dr. John O'Connor, who raised concerns about high rates of cancers and other illnesses in a community downstream from Alberta's oilsands developments.
Dr. Gerry Keifer, the Alberta Medical Association's president, said Monday that doctors have a right to voice concerns.
"We want to make sure the federal minister of health and public authorities are aware of a physician's professional obligation and his right to speak out when he observes something."
A letter of support for O'Connor has been sent to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, as well the the federal and provincial health ministers, Keifer said.
O'Connor alerted the media last year to what he believed was a disproportionately high incidence of colon, liver, blood and bile-duct cancers in patients who live in Fort Chipewyan, a small community downstream from major petroleum refineries.
Continue Article
In filing the complaint against O'Connor with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, Health Canada did not explain the action, but said the doctor was causing undue alarm.
First Nations back O'Connor
The complaint has made O'Connor a celebrity of sorts. His name is mentioned at environmental rallies and on internet blogs. Opposition parties, both federally and provincially, have taken up his cause, as have First Nations leaders.
Chief Jim Bouchier, who speaks on behalf of the Athabasca Tribal Council that represents the five First Nations in northeastern Alberta, said O'Connor repeated concerns First Nations people have raised for years.
"In our estimation, Dr. O'Connor is doing things in the best interest of his patients," he said.
"Health Canada as well as other health care providers in the region have failed in their duty and responsibility with respect to ensuring that the interests of the First Nation people are taken care of."
Health Canada still won't talk about why it thinks O'Connor is unduly raising concern, while O'Connor can't talk until the complaint with the the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta is resolved.
The complaint really has nothing to do with his medical practice per se. Even if he exagerrates the situation the very fact that Health Canada reacts with a complaint creates suspicions. As the natives mention they have raised the same concerns for ages. Maybe Health Canada should sanction the natives somehow!
Alberta doctors support outspoken peer
Last Updated: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 | 12:11 PM MT
CBC News
The Alberta Medical Association has passed a unanimous motion supporting a doctor at the centre of an environmental controversy in northern Alberta.
In February, Health Canada officials filed a complaint against Dr. John O'Connor, who raised concerns about high rates of cancers and other illnesses in a community downstream from Alberta's oilsands developments.
Dr. Gerry Keifer, the Alberta Medical Association's president, said Monday that doctors have a right to voice concerns.
"We want to make sure the federal minister of health and public authorities are aware of a physician's professional obligation and his right to speak out when he observes something."
A letter of support for O'Connor has been sent to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, as well the the federal and provincial health ministers, Keifer said.
O'Connor alerted the media last year to what he believed was a disproportionately high incidence of colon, liver, blood and bile-duct cancers in patients who live in Fort Chipewyan, a small community downstream from major petroleum refineries.
Continue Article
In filing the complaint against O'Connor with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, Health Canada did not explain the action, but said the doctor was causing undue alarm.
First Nations back O'Connor
The complaint has made O'Connor a celebrity of sorts. His name is mentioned at environmental rallies and on internet blogs. Opposition parties, both federally and provincially, have taken up his cause, as have First Nations leaders.
Chief Jim Bouchier, who speaks on behalf of the Athabasca Tribal Council that represents the five First Nations in northeastern Alberta, said O'Connor repeated concerns First Nations people have raised for years.
"In our estimation, Dr. O'Connor is doing things in the best interest of his patients," he said.
"Health Canada as well as other health care providers in the region have failed in their duty and responsibility with respect to ensuring that the interests of the First Nation people are taken care of."
Health Canada still won't talk about why it thinks O'Connor is unduly raising concern, while O'Connor can't talk until the complaint with the the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta is resolved.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Oilsands area village supports whistleblower doctor.
It might give more strength to Canada Health's side to release the report of Alberta Health. It seems that they fear a critical analysis of the report. This is just the sort of situation accused terrorists face. They cannot see the evidence against them. Is the release of the report a threat to National Security since it might threaten Oil Sands development!
Oilsands-area hamlet supports whistleblower MD
Physician raised concerns about high cancer rates downstream from oil projects
Last Updated: Monday, March 5, 2007 | 6:39 AM ET
CBC News
A small Alberta community is rallying behind a local doctor they believe is being silenced by Health Canada because he raised concerns about high rates of cancer near the booming oilsands.
Health Canada officials have filed a complaint against Dr. John O'Connor.
O'Connor alerted the media last year to a what he believed was a disproportionately high incidence of colon, liver, blood and bile-duct cancers in patients who live in Fort Chipewyan, a small community downstream from major petroleum refineries.
In filing the complaint against O'Connor with the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons, Health Canada did not explain the action, but said the doctor was causing undue harm.
Meanwhile, physicians who work alongside O'Connor in Fort Chipewyan believe officials are targeting their colleague because his comments potentially threaten billions of dollars of investment in the province's oilsands.
"I am absolutely shocked that they would treat a physicians of this calibre like this. There's a deliberate attempt to beat him down or shut him up," the area's head nurse, George MacDonald, said.
Since O'Connor spoke to the media last year, Alberta Health followed up on his concerns and did an analysis of the community. Although the ministry refused to release its report, a version obtained by the CBC shows O'Connor was mostly right — there are more cases than normal of liver, bile duct, colon cancer and cancers of the blood.
But the numbers are not as high as he thought, and Alberta Health says the rates are not statistically high enough to be any cause for concern.
Community physicians want to know if that's true. The Nunee Health Authority believes one way to find out is to conduct more thorough health studies, not attack its doctor.
"It really upsets me because it's just not right. He's standing up for us," said Donna Cyprian, who works at the health authority.
John Rigny, a patient of O'Connor's for years, said the people in Fort Chipewyan have long asked for a comprehensive health study.
Dr. Michel Sauvé, who heads the intensive care unit in Fort McMurray where O'Connor is based — he flies in to Fort Chipewyan on Tuesdays and Wednesdays — said doctors who identify potential public health problems should be protected rather than punished.
"Obviously, we need some whistleblower protection, some laws that will banish these kinds of repressive censorship. Punishing and trying to single out a physician to shut him up is not in the public interest," he said.
O'Connor's lawyer say he is not speaking to the media until the complaint is resolved.
Oilsands-area hamlet supports whistleblower MD
Physician raised concerns about high cancer rates downstream from oil projects
Last Updated: Monday, March 5, 2007 | 6:39 AM ET
CBC News
A small Alberta community is rallying behind a local doctor they believe is being silenced by Health Canada because he raised concerns about high rates of cancer near the booming oilsands.
Health Canada officials have filed a complaint against Dr. John O'Connor.
O'Connor alerted the media last year to a what he believed was a disproportionately high incidence of colon, liver, blood and bile-duct cancers in patients who live in Fort Chipewyan, a small community downstream from major petroleum refineries.
In filing the complaint against O'Connor with the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons, Health Canada did not explain the action, but said the doctor was causing undue harm.
Meanwhile, physicians who work alongside O'Connor in Fort Chipewyan believe officials are targeting their colleague because his comments potentially threaten billions of dollars of investment in the province's oilsands.
"I am absolutely shocked that they would treat a physicians of this calibre like this. There's a deliberate attempt to beat him down or shut him up," the area's head nurse, George MacDonald, said.
Since O'Connor spoke to the media last year, Alberta Health followed up on his concerns and did an analysis of the community. Although the ministry refused to release its report, a version obtained by the CBC shows O'Connor was mostly right — there are more cases than normal of liver, bile duct, colon cancer and cancers of the blood.
But the numbers are not as high as he thought, and Alberta Health says the rates are not statistically high enough to be any cause for concern.
Community physicians want to know if that's true. The Nunee Health Authority believes one way to find out is to conduct more thorough health studies, not attack its doctor.
"It really upsets me because it's just not right. He's standing up for us," said Donna Cyprian, who works at the health authority.
John Rigny, a patient of O'Connor's for years, said the people in Fort Chipewyan have long asked for a comprehensive health study.
Dr. Michel Sauvé, who heads the intensive care unit in Fort McMurray where O'Connor is based — he flies in to Fort Chipewyan on Tuesdays and Wednesdays — said doctors who identify potential public health problems should be protected rather than punished.
"Obviously, we need some whistleblower protection, some laws that will banish these kinds of repressive censorship. Punishing and trying to single out a physician to shut him up is not in the public interest," he said.
O'Connor's lawyer say he is not speaking to the media until the complaint is resolved.
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