Northern Health defends handling of complaint over director's pro-Palestinian statements

B.C.'s Northern Health Authority is defending its handling of a complaint about pro-Palestinian social media posts the organization's former director of inclusion, diversity and equity (IDEA) claims cost her a job.

Northern Health filed a response last week to a B.C. Supreme Court lawsuit in which Amy Blanding claims she was effectively fired over a song, an Instagram post and a T-shirt voicing her concerns "about the level of violence and human rights abuses committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip."

In reply, the health authority says Blanding resigned after being removed from a temporary promotion — and even if she hadn't, there was "just cause to terminate" her employment.

"Although the performance and social media posts were made in [Blanding's] personal time, given the unique office that [she] held as IDEA director and as a senior leader within the organization, NHA had concerns that members of the public would attribute these positions to NHA," the response reads.

'Potentially hesitant to access health care'

The controversy dates back to an April 6 performance of a song Blanding — who is also a singer-songwriter — gave in a public venue with a community choir.

At the time, she was in a temporary role in the newly minted inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility role — a promotion from a regional manager position slated to end in August 2025.

Blanding claimed her lyrics "advocate for peace and freedom" and "do not mention any specific place, people or group." At a dress rehearsal, she wore a T-shirt with a picture of a watermelon — an image considered symbolic because the red, green and black colours mirror the Palestinian flag.

"After the performance, Ms. Blanding posted a video of her song on Instagram, with a caption referencing the number of civilians, including children, killed by Israel and the use of starvation as a weapon of war," Blanding's claim said.

"On April 24, 2024, four individuals sent a letter to Northern Health demanding that Northern Heath take action about Ms. Blanding on the basis of her song, her Instagram post and her T-shirt."

In its response, Northern Health says the organization was concerned "these comments by its interim IDEA director would lead to certain members of the community, as well as others within NHA, feeling ostracized or unwelcome and potentially hesitant to access health care."

Blanding claimed Northern Health wanted her to post a pre-drafted statement to her personal social media, saying her "actions impacted community members and caused them to feel less safe, and [that she] apologized for her comments, specifically to the Jewish community."

When she asked for "time to consider," Blanding claimed "Northern Health denied her request."

In its response, Northern Health says Blanding "refused to publish a statement apologizing to certain members of the Prince George community; namely, the Jewish community."

"Given the potential harms for certain religious and ethnic minorities within the health region as a result of the social media posts, the plaintiff's conduct, and her unwillingness in refusing to take reasonable and proportionate corrective action to address the impacts of her conduct, put her in conflict with the requirements of her temporary IDEA role," the health authority says.

'She is not entitled to any damages'

Northern Health claims the organization was entitled to remove Blanding from her temporary post; the health authority also committed to paying her salary at that level until the scheduled end of the position in August 2025.

Northern Health says Blanding went on sick leave in May and then resigned on June 10.

"As such, she is not entitled to any damages," the response says.

In her initial claim, Blanding said she suffered "extreme stress and anxiety" from the situation before going on sick leave.

While on leave, Blanding claimed she learned Northern Health had responded to the complainants by saying, "We understand your concern and agree that follow-up is required" and noting that "changes to the senior leadership" had since been made.

Blanding claimed the response rendered her "unable to return" to work because her employer had effectively "agreed" that "she was bigoted, incapable of performing her position and supportive of violence."

Northern Health claims its letter "did not contain any agreement with the statements of fact set out in the complaint."