Nova Scotia Health gets new administrator

Nova Scotia Health has a new administrator and this time they're based in Nova Scotia. But opposition leaders say it's nothing more than an attempt by the provincial government to mute criticism on the eve of a possible election call.

Health Minister Michelle Thompson announced Thursday that former Capital District Health Authority CEO Chris Power will take on the role beginning Nov. 6, the same day Janet Davidson's resignation becomes effective.

Davidson, who was appointed administrator after Thompson and Premier Tim Houston fired the health authority board and CEO after they formed government in 2021, signed a new contract last month. But the government came under fire when it was learned Davidson now lives in Ontario.

In an interview, Thompson said Davidson gave notice on Tuesday. She declined to provide specifics.

"We were very fortunate to have her guidance over the last number of years," said Thompson. "Very, very grateful to her for all she's done for Nova Scotians."

Opposition accuses government of electioneering

Power will be paid $100,000 a year, about half of what Davidson would have made. The minister said Davidson will receive $15,000 in severance to reflect the work she does before leaving her job.

Liberal Leader Zach Churchill said Davidson's resignation was the right move and it was "ridiculous" for the government to have renewed her contract in the first place.

He said it's "blatantly obvious to everybody" that the premier is trying to tie up problematic loose ends before calling a snap election. He pointed to recent announcements supporting the ferry service to Maine and plans to do work related to the Chignecto Isthmus as further evidence.

"I think he's just shoring up potential threats to him in local areas before he calls an early election that, again, is a breach of his own [fixed election date] law."

Thompson also announced the creation of a new health system council, a group of three to nine people approved by her who can provide advice and monitor the quality and performance of the system. The group will meet quarterly and make recommendations by Aug. 1 each year.

People will be selected from a variety of backgrounds, including health care, data analytics and industrial engineering, and serve three-year terms with one option for renewal, said Thompson. There's no guarantee everyone on the council will reside in Nova Scotia, she said.

New council will advise minister

"Wherever we can take what's working well and experience in other places and bring it here, we will do that."

NDP Leader Claudia Chender said that makes no sense.

"This government loves to rely on, you know, people in California who run tech companies to tell us how to do things," she said.

"And while I'm sure that there is knowledge there that is useful to our system, what we need is to address the issues of the Nova Scotia health-care system immediately and we need to do that with people who understand the system and who understand health care in this context."

Churchill and Chender both called on the Progressive Conservatives to restore a health authority board that would provide oversight. Thompson said that for now the plan is to continue with just an administrator and interim CEO Karen Oldfield, who was appointed by Houston in 2021.