A local politician is speaking out about the bonuses Alberta Health Services (AHS) executives are slated to receive for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
“They should be ashamed of themselves,” said Airdrie MLA Rob Anderson.
“We are in a real economic bind as a province right now. One of the biggest reasons our province is in the red is because of the excess and mismanagement of AHS. The wait lists in this province are atrocious, the value for money is a debacle.”
AHS Chair Stephen Lockwood told reporters, last week, AHS will hand out performance bonuses despite the government freeze for all public service managers that took effect April 1.
Lockwood told reporters the bonuses will be subject to achieving performance measures and an audit by the Auditor General. He defended the move by telling reporters, “These people have already done the work, and it would be wrong from many perspectives to not compensate them as per their terms of employment.”
Last year, more than 100 senior staff earned nearly $2.4 million in addition to their base salary.
Anderson is just one of many who have criticized the bonuses, the amount of which will be released in AHS’ June financial statements.
Premier Redford’s office and Doug Horner, the finance minister, have publicly criticized AHS for the bonuses.
Last week, Stefan Baranski, a spokesman for Premier Alison Redford, told the Calgary Herald the health authority should consider curbing pay-at-risk for senior executives immediately, rather than waiting until the 2013-14 fiscal year to axe the extra compensation.
On March 17, Lockwood and AHS President and CEO Dr. Chris Eagle announced a plan to cut pay-at-risk bonuses for all executives, effective April 1.
They also pledged to cut administrative expenses by at least 10 per cent, amounting to $35 million over the next three years; implemented a three-year compensation freeze for all management and physician leaders; as well as a hiring freeze for all administration positions not deemed “mission critical.”
Michelle Bates, founding member of the Airdrie & District Health Foundation, said bonuses should only be given to those who do an exceptional job.
She said at a community engagement meeting earlier this year, both Lockwood and Eagle indicated AHS could do better.
“If you haven’t done a good job, maybe you shouldn’t get a bonus,” said Bates.
“When it’s on the taxpayers (and) we aren’t getting what is adequate for us, why would they get a bonus?
Bates expressed frustration with the situation, saying the government should take responsibility for the decision.
Anderson agreed.
“While this is going on they are cutting on the front lines,” he said. “They need to give their collective heads a shake, wake up and realize the day of taxpayer trough sucking are over.”
Earlier this year, AHS sent termination notices to nurse practitioners at Airdrie and Cochrane urgent care centres.
The decision was reversed after public outcry in the communities.
