Media gag order on paramedics' union officials 'quite common,' says minister

The province's health minister has come to the defence of Medavie Health Services New Brunswick, the private firm under fire for secrecy surrounding its operation of Ambulance New Brunswick and its contract with the provincial government.

Benoît Bourque said the province was only made aware after the fact that Medavie included a media gag order on officials of the paramedics union in a newly signed contract.

But he said it's "quite common for that to happen." 

A government spokesman later clarified that gag order does not cover regular unionized workers.

Speaking on the CBC New Brunswick Political Panel podcast, Bourque said the Liberal government is committed to transparency, but the minister hedged when asked whether government would have supported the gag order if it had known ahead of time.

"There are times, however, where there are certain discussions, whether it's with union negotiations or with the private sector, that before we can discuss things openly, we have to discuss things privately," Bourque said, adding "eventually it will all come out."

He said parties may choose to not negotiate through the media.

The other panellists rejected the minister's position and called for improved transparency.

"How can you have accountability without transparency?" said Green Party candidate Marilyn Merritt-Gray.

The National Union of Public and General Employees said in a statement "this is problematic and underscores the need to keep the private sector from delivering public services."

ANB controversy

Ambulance New Brunswick has faced controversy following stories by the Telegraph-Journal newspaper and CBC News about ambulances that were out of service because of staffing issues.

Medavie successfully fought in court to keep details of its contract with the province secret. Court of Queen's bench Justice George Rideout ruled Tuesday no further details of the contract to operate Ambulance New Brunswick need to be released to the public.

The private firm argued releasing details would jeopardize its competitiveness.

Bourque echoed that statement on the podcast, adding the province respects the justice's decision.

'This is the situation on the ground'

But staffing levels and response times are not proprietary information, argued NDP Leader Jennifer McKenzie.

"That's all standard day-to-day operations," she said. "This is not a union contract negotiation. This is the situation on the ground, as it affects New Brunswickers."

The issues would be erased if ambulance services were run by a public operator, McKenzie said.

PC MLA Carl Urquhart said the media gag order is not acceptable, and he questioned the timing of the contract stipulation when Ambulance New Brunswick has been under heavy scrutiny.

"The people who they serve deserve to know what they're doing," he said.