Gov’t tried to discredit care aide, NDP says
REGINA — A Saskatoon man who spoke out about problems at the senior care facility where he works is angry his personnel information — specifically the fact that he was suspended and some of the reasons for it — was given to government staff.
On Monday morning, reporters were told by a senior government official from the premier’s office that Peter Bowden had been suspended with pay from his job at Oliver Lodge.
Late last month, Bowden spoke out at the legislature about being left alone at times on his night shift to look after 32 residents on a dementia ward at Oliver Lodge, which is managed by the Saskatoon Health Region. At the time, Bowden was given an assurance by Premier Brad Wall that he wouldn’t be punished for being a whistleblower.
On Monday, Bowden said he believed he was suspended for speaking out; on Tuesday, he said he was unhappy the government was notified by email of his suspension in the first place.
He said he’s confident the information didn’t come from his union, which will be present at an upcoming hearing regarding the allegations against Bowden.
Two allegations against Bowden were made in the days leading up to him publicly raising his concerns, and at least one was made after he spoke out.
The government said the suspension stems from a series of complaints made about Bowden by co-workers.
During question period on Tuesday, the NDP’s Trent Wotherspoon said the list of complaints specified he was in trouble for speaking out, raising concerns about patient care and posting on Facebook that he thought he might lose his job for speaking out.
Health Minister Dustin Duncan said the media was made aware of Bowden’s suspension by the government official because of the likelihood of it coming up at the legislature.
“That information was provided in a fairly limited fashion, on a background basis to reporters,” Duncan said.
Later Monday morning, the NDP sent an email to reporters notifying them that Bowden believes his suspension was for speaking out.
Duncan denied that allegation, saying health regions wouldn’t take disciplinary action against an employee for speaking out about the conditions in which they work.
The government official who sent the email about the suspension to reporters said in a followup note that the information came from the Saskatoon Health Region, which runs the facility where Bowden works.
Duncan said he wasn’t sure whether the ministry asked for the information or if it was provided by the health region. He said it isn’t a normal course of action for a health region to notify the government of a suspension.
Wotherspoon said the breach of privacy from the premier’s office was an attempt to discredit Bowden.
In a statement, the Saskatoon Health Region said it does not typically notify the provincial government when an employee is suspended.
“Situations where we have notified the Ministry of Health in the past of HR related matters are circumstances where there was significant organizational impact like shifting of several positions or when there are matters of public concern,” the statement said.