B.C.’s premier apologized Wednesday for the firing of a Health Ministry researcher who later committed suicide, and said she and top officials will co-operate with an independent investigation.
Premier Christy Clark said she and the government extend apologies and sympathies to Linda Kayfish and her family.
Kayfish is the sister of Roderick MacIsaac, 46, a University of Victoria student who killed himself months after being fired with seven others as part of a privacy-breach investigation in the Health Ministry’s pharmaceutical division.
B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake made a similar apology last week.
“In these circumstances, it was very appropriate that government apologize for what the health minister, I think, appropriately characterized as very heavy-handed actions,” Clark said.
The NDP continued to hammer the B.C. government during question period Wednesday on the scope of its independent review into the firings. The review, to be conducted by labour lawyer Marcia McNeil, is due to be completed by Oct. 31 and made public shortly afterwards.
Clark said McNeil has full authority to speak with anyone she wants to in the government.
“I have directed all members of the government, and this certainly includes myself, to speak to her if requested,” Clark said.
“And I have full confidence, as well, that people who once worked for government, who no longer do, will also make sure that they participate, co-operate and speak with her.”
Former deputy health minister Graham Whitmarsh, who signed the termination letters, was fired and given a severance of $250,000 last year and $180,000 this year.
“It’s important that this review be thorough,” the premier said. “It’s important that we get to the bottom of it, and that is what, by the end of October, we hope we’re able to do.”
Kayfish said she hopes the review brings a better understanding of what happened to ensure it never happens again.
Kayfish made an appeal on Sept. 30 for a public apology. She got one from the health minister on Oct. 3 but wasn’t expecting the apology from the premier.
“That’s wonderful,” Kayfish said. “It’s good to have that follow-up. Everyone makes mistakes but facing them and admitting them is [important].”
NDP MLA Adrian Dix criticized the government during question period for announcing in September 2012 that it was handing over its privacy-breach investigation to the RCMP and not updating its status.
“Given that the government smeared these people … has the premier … ensured the RCMP received that report, so that people who were smeared could somehow be unsmeared?” Dix asked.
Staff Sgt. Duncan Pound of the RCMP’s serious and organized crime division said it’s not appropriate to comment.
“I can confirm that the RCMP is in communication with the ministry with respect to the allegations against ministry employees,” Pound said.
Since the firings, three workers have settled wrongful-dismissal lawsuits out of court and three unionized employees, including MacIsaac, settled after their union filed grievances. Two other cases remain before the courts.
Lake reiterated Wednesday that in 2012, the government found the health information of more than 30,000 British Columbians was put on unencrypted flash drives and shared with fellow researchers who weren’t authorized to receive the information, contrary to government policy. There were no names on the health information.
