NSHA board transparency expected to be discussed
The province’s integrated health authority is moving toward making its dealings more public, the minister of health says.
The Nova Scotia Health Authority was formed in 2015 and since that time it has held its board meetings in private and its minutes are not publicly available.
Health Minister Randy Delorey said Thursday the board is due to meet — behind closed doors — in the coming days and the issue of making its operations more public will be on the agenda.
“We fully expect them to come forward with the changes to their bylaws, I don’t have the exact timing for it, though,” Delorey said.
Legislation proposed earlier this year by the NDP would have made board meetings open to the public and force the NSHA to give public notification of its meetings. Meeting agendas and minutes of meetings would also be publicly available.
Delorey said it’s important to determine what would allow the board to operate most effectively and allow for frank discussions and provide direction while also ensuring Nova Scotians get the information about the health system that they require.
“What is the best approach to do that, that’s exactly what we’ve asked the board to do is come up with those recommendations,” Delorey said.
The board of the IWK Children’s Hospital, by contrast, does hold public meetings, going in-camera to discuss confidential matters.
Marion Bridge resident Frank van Schaayk was named chair of the board in March. With the recent addition of new board members, it is an opportune time to introduce some changes to its governance, Delorey said.
The board is comprised of 14 volunteer members from across the province that meets at least six times per year, including meetings that are held in the board’s various zones. Since 2015-16, the board has held meetings in Sydney, Kentville, Halifax, Truro, Bridgewater, Dartmouth, Amherst, Antigonish and Yarmouth, its website notes.