Superboard - super raises

Less than one year after the formation of Alberta's health superboard, the province's health minister has given its members and chairman raises of 20 and 25 per cent.
Ken Hughes, board chairman of Alberta Health Services, will now earn $75,000 a year, up from $60,000 approved nine months ago. He will also receive $1,000 per day for up to four public meetings each month.
Board members will earn $60,000 a year, up from $50,000 previously approved, topped up with $750 a day for up to four meetings each month.
Hughes said the minister decided on the raises, which came in December.
"Most of us are not serving for the honoraria," he said after a board meeting in Red Deer. "We're serving because we think we can make a big difference."
John Tuckwell, spokesman for Alberta Health and Wellness, said the original smaller figures were set when the board was made of interim members. He said Hughes proposed the raises to the minister, and Ron Liepert approved.
"The minister has agreed that that's appropriate," Tuckwell said. "These are business-board-type people and you need to be able to recruit and retain the best. You need to offer competitive packages. This adjustment reflects what the market is doing," and what similar-sized organizations are offering their board members.
David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare, doesn't approve.
"I don't think it's a good idea, talking about cutbacks in different sectors," Eggen said. "It sets the wrong message and tone for what they're trying to accomplish here in the next weeks and months."
Although the payments are categorized as honoraria, since the board member positions are part-time, Eggen said. "Plenty of front-line health-care workers make less than that for a full-time job. The minister should set a responsible and prudent tone."
Board members discussed policies surrounding their honoraria on Wednesday at their first meeting with Stephen Duckett, who is three days into his new job as president and CEO of Alberta Health Services.
Duckett said he will focus on improving access, quality and sustainability in the health system by setting clear strategies and monitoring progress.
"It's going to be really important that we live within our means," Duckett said. He wouldn't reveal third-quarter estimates of the board's deficit, but said the deficit is below the $700-million operating deficit reported up to now. The estimated deficit balloons to $1.3 billion when capital funds are included.
"It's changing in the right direction," he said. "I think it's going to be substantially better than that."
Duckett said he is eager to hear the provincial budget April 7.
"We're going to set a budget, saying this is what we're going to do, and we're going to deliver on the budget," he said. "It's really important that we get the numbers and plan so we set the course for the whole fiscal year."
He said Alberta Health Services will honour any severance packages, such as the one heading to Paddy Meade, who was laid off last week from her $515,000 salaried job as executive operating officer of the new Continuum of Care Division. She could receive upwards of $1 million in severance, though no details have been released.
"The structure is what we're looking at," Duckett said of the decision to cut her job. "I thought that this part of the organization, the reporting lines were somewhat long and the flattening of the organization was a good thing to do."
He said he's not anticipating any more huge changes.