Monday’s Question Period was the first opportunity for the provincial opposition to inquire the provincial government about the departure of Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone.
The resignation was announced last Thursday with many questions still left unanswered, which led to a back and forth discussion between the Premier and the leader of the opposition.
NDP Leader Ryan Meili asked about the timing of Livingstone’s resignation, noting that it was delivered on November 22 but the announcement was made publicly on December 3. Premier Scott Moe says that the announcement of Livingstone’s resignation was made in line with the board of directors process of finding an interim CEO.
Meili then asked if the provincial government ignoring the advice of health experts was the reasoning for Livingstone’s departure. Moe responded that the measures that the Saskatchewan government issued in the middle of September that took effect in the beginning of October have proven to be successful with the amount of cases going down along with the vaccination rates in the province beginning to increase.
A possible problem with structure was asked by Meili, as he questioned the Premier if the change of management of the pandemic from the Saskatchewan Health Authority to the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre was a cause for Livingstone to give his resignation. Moe says that Provincial Emergency Operations Centre has been very useful measure in handling the pandemic.
The timing of the CEO departure along with the departure of Suann Laurent, the COO of the SHA, was something that Meili found to be concerning. The departure of Laurent was due to retirement according to Moe, adding that the CEO’s exit was a matter of resignation.
The Premier added he has full confidence in the board of directors will find a new CEO.