$550K paycheque for interim CEO of health superboard

The interim chief executive officer of Alberta's new health superboard will be paid $550,000 — about half what some of her outgoing regional counterparts take home.

By comparison, Jack Davis, president and CEO of the Calgary Health Region, earned $1.2 million in salary and benefits in 2007, while Sheila Weatherill of Capital Health Region received about $900,000 with pension benefits.

'We determined that that was an appropriate level of compensation for somebody who is the CEO for the province of Alberta.' — Ken Hughes, Alberta Health Services Board

Those salaries were set by the health regions that were disbanded last month. Health Minister Ron Liepert said he took over approval of CEO salaries to show more accountability to Alberta taxpayers.

Superboard chair Ken Hughes pointed out Tuesday that the Robb's pay reflects the temporary nature of the CEO position.

"I'm not saying there won't be an adjustment when we get to the point of the full-time CEO role," said Hughes, who is also chair of the Alberta Health Services Board.

"This is an interim role that Charlotte Robb has taken on, and we determined that that was an appropriate level of compensation for somebody who is the CEO for the province of Alberta."

Last month, Liepert eliminated Alberta's nine regional health authorities to create the superboard as part of the Conservatives' plan to reshape the province's health-care system.

The Alberta Health Services Board also took control of the Cancer Board, the Mental Health Board and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.

As the chair, Hughes will be paid $60,000 as well as $1,000 for every meeting, while board members will receive $40,000 and $750 per meeting.