Health researchers wrongly fired in 2012 have received letters of apology and cheques, ranging from $15,000 to $125,000, from the head of the B.C. Public Service.
The payouts, based on recommendations by the B.C. ombudsperson, were delivered in the final week of June — just in time for the ombudsperson’s recommended deadline of June 30.
A letter accompanying a cheque for $75,000 to Ramsay Hamdi details the ways in which the Ministry of Health failed him.
Among them, it said Hamdi was not informed of the allegations against him, he was not given a full opportunity to respond to those allegations and there were no reasonable grounds for his dismissal.
“As a valued Ministry of Health employee of over 28 years and a Senior Economist who was a team member, trusted co-worker and expert in the proper use of administrative health data and economic modeling, you deserved to be treated fairly and respectfully. On behalf of the government, I apologize that you did not receive this fair and respectful treatment, and for your suspension and dismissal. I further apologize for the stress and harm, including harm to your finances and reputation, you suffered as a result of this investigation and its aftermath,” the letter says.
The letter is signed by Kim Henderson, deputy minister to the premier, under Christy Clark, and head of the B.C. Public Service.
Hamdi said he appreciated the apology, but it should have come from those directly responsible. He said he didn’t believe the ombudsperson’s conclusion that there had been no political interference in the process.
He said he deposited his $75,000 cheque in line behind Mark Isaacs, a wrongly fired contractor.
“This touched us all like a fire,” Hamdi said.
“It was the same teller. He had quite a day.”
Ron Mattson, another wrongly-fired employee, said the cash and apology don’t make up for the damage caused by the firings — including the death of researcher Roderick MacIsaac. MacIsaac, a 46-year-old University of Victoria co-op student, killed himself in December 2012, about four months after he was fired in connection with allegations of inappropriate conduct involving government drug research.
“I believe they did what they were required to do or what was recommended to do through the [ombudsperson’s] report. Did I feel warm and fuzzy after receiving it? No. It’s very nice that the civil service provided us the apology, but it should have come from the government and from the former premier [Christy Clark],” Mattson said.
Mattson said that while he was pleased to receive $125,000, it doesn’t make things right.
“I can’t even think of a proper way to describe how badly they treated us,” he said.
“No money in the world will bring back Roderick,” he said.
Mattson said he’d still like to see some of the responsible individuals “receive their just rewards.”
The ombudsperson’s report did not recommend firing those who were still employed in government.
Since the report was released, some senior managers have left the government, although it is not clear whether they were fired, let go, or left on their own accord.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance confirmed that Barb Walman, Lindsey Kislock and Wendy Taylor had left their positions.
“As this is a personnel matter, we can’t go into further details. In all personnel matters we’re limited in what we can say due to privacy considerations. We can confirm that the individuals are not with the B.C. Public Service.”
Taylor was one of the lead investigators in the process that led to the firings.
Walman and Kislock were assistant deputy ministers in the Ministry of Health, and helped set the terms of the investigation.
