WRHA board chairman who escaped winter steps down

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This article was published 31/01/2021 (1425 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The chairman of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority board of directors is vacating his post — a week after it was revealed he went to Arizona, despite pleas from government to avoid international travel.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement Monday night.

Last week, the Free Press reported Wayne McWhirter had travelled south in January, against the advice of public health officials.

“After discussion with my office, Wayne McWhirter will be stepping down as chair (of the WRHA),” Pallister said in a news release.

“Due to concerns about COVID-19 variants now emerging, and in order to provide additional clarity regarding public health orders, all Manitoba government order-in-council appointees — including those serving on agencies, boards and commissions — may not travel for leisure purposes outside permitted travel areas, effective immediately,” the premier said.

“Should they do so, their appointment will be terminated.”

Last week, McWhirter refused to explain any reason for travelling to Arizona. A call Monday night went unanswered.

The news of his resignation came as little shock to one WRHA board member.

“It was the right thing for him to do. If we’re expecting all Manitobans to follow the rules, we should be held to the same standard, if not higher,” the individual, who requested anonymity, said Monday.

“I do feel badly for him. I don’t believe there was any malice on his part. But we’re all in the same boat and we all have to follow the same rules. It was very poor judgment. I don’t see any justification (for travelling).”

Pallister was far more excusing on Jan. 28, when discussing McWhirter’s decision to travel amidst a global pandemic. The premier said he was “disappointed,” but suggested McWhirter should be cut some slack because of his largely “volunteer” role.

“I’ve said it repeatedly and I’ll say it again: don’t travel now. This is not the time to do it,” the premier said when asked specifically about McWhirter’s trip south.

“I’ll also remind people, too — this is a volunteer you’re talking about. This isn’t a political staffer… this isn’t a person in our bureaucracy. So, I would make that distinction.”

Apart from earning a per diem, McWhirter “is one of the over 1,000 people that have volunteered to serve on a board in our province,” the premier said at the time.

A day earlier, Health Minister Heather Stefanson said the Progressive Conservatives had no plans to remove him from the board post.

Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew said the premier’s reluctance to immediately force McWhirter from his post speaks volumes.

“The premier should have acted more quickly. It just highlights another double standard. The premier has had no problem naming and shaming everyone else, but when it comes to one of his appointees, of course, he gives that person a chance to save face by resigning,” Kinew told the Free Press on Monday.

“Everyone knew that it was wrong for the head of the Winnipeg health region’s board to travel. The fact it took the premier so long to come to his senses is another example of poor decision-making related to the pandemic,” Kinew said.

“We need health-care leaders to lead by example… You can’t steer the Winnipeg health region through a crisis from Arizona.”

The WRHA had insisted McWhirter fulfilled his duties with the board by working remotely. Meetings have been held virtually for many months, said the unnamed board member.

The president of the Manitoba Nurses Union said it was important the now-former WRHA chairman be held accountable.

“At a time when nurses have sacrificed so much already, what’s most important is that we continue to look to the future. Unfortunately, when those entrusted with positions of significant authority in the health system make personal exceptions to the rules, it is not only disrespectful to front-line health-care personnel, but undermines our pandemic recovery efforts,” Darlene Jackson said in a statement.

“Now more than ever, we need to be diligent in holding everyone — bureaucrats included — accountable for their actions,” she said.

“It’s already difficult enough to retain and recruit nurses into Manitoba without further degradation of morale by the application of double standards.”

 

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell