Health board officials should be made accountable

I was appalled and dismayed after reading the article in the September 17 issue of Nunatsiaq News on the serious deficit situation of the Baffin health board. And yet the Chair and the CEO do not seem to have any concerns about the matter.

And why should they, the chair will be relieved of his responsibilities in the next six months.

But I can’t help but wonder why they (Dennis and Jarvis) can just shrug off $1 million as “oops!” I think the public has the right to ask these questions.

For example, what about the $800,000 surplus from the non-insured health benefits program? Was it used to offset some of the deficit? This is an aboriginal specific program, and should not be used to finance other public service programs.

What about the chronic shortage of staff, what happened to the funds or budget items for the unfilled positions?

If the chair and the CEO can’t account for $1 million from their budget why aren’t they made accountable?

These are the questions that we the people, like any other taxpayers of this country, like to see answered.

Lastly, isn’t it ironic that the chair would attempt to divert the attention to the Inuit as the culprit of the deficit situation that the health board is in?

It has always been the practice that if it’s glory, they take the credit. If it’s negative, blame it on the Inuit.

Name withheld by request
Iqaluit