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Alberta’s high physician introduced dwelling almost $600,000 between her wage and money advantages in 2021.
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Chief medical officer of well being Dr. Deena Hinshaw made $363,633.92 in wage and $227,911.35 in “money advantages” final 12 months, in line with the Alberta authorities’s sunshine record up to date final month, which discloses severance and wage for civil servants incomes above a sure threshold.
That ranks as the best money bonus in addition to the best whole payout to a Authorities of Alberta worker for the reason that province began disclosing this info in 2016.
The compensation encompassed a 12 months through which Hinshaw was the general public face of Alberta’s COVID-19 response, together with its vaccine rollout and implementation of public-health measures.
In an announcement to Postmedia, Alberta Well being mentioned 107 authorities staff obtained “particular providers” compensation in 2021 for further work throughout the pandemic response.
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They mentioned these funds had been made in accordance with standards set by the general public service fee, with comparable compensation paid out throughout earlier emergencies just like the 2013 southern Alberta floods and the 2016 Fort McMurray fires.
“The overall consists of particular providers compensation to the Chief Medical Officer of Well being decided utilizing a components for managers based mostly on further hours labored,” mentioned Steve Buick, press secretary to Well being Minister Jason Copping.
“Given the size of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a unprecedented quantity of further work was required from Alberta’s high public well being physician.”
The additional pay to Hinshaw encompasses hours labored past 45 hours throughout every week.
Pay disclosures from earlier years present Hinshaw took dwelling a base wage of $363,633.92 in 2020 and $332,164.64 in 2019. She didn’t obtain more money advantages in both 12 months.
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The extent of compensation isn’t an issue given Hinshaw’s obligations final 12 months, mentioned Mount Royal College political scientist Duane Bratt.
“I didn’t assume that giving her a bonus based mostly on a components was essentially dangerous. I can see that it was warranted,” he mentioned.
“You’re speaking about your complete 12 months of 2021 and my guess is she was most likely working 70-hour weeks throughout each week of 2021, so I’ve no subject with that.”
Bratt mentioned there may very well be political ramifications from the disclosure of Hinshaw’s compensation, nonetheless, with the subject more likely to come up as candidates vie to interchange Premier Jason Kenney because the United Conservative Occasion chief.
He mentioned there’s already been some public uproar over the compensation, with opponents making two arguments. One is that the size of funds is extreme, notably within the context of proposed authorities rollbacks of some well being employees’ wages earlier within the pandemic. The opposite is an accusation that the cash represents a “payoff” from the UCP, a notion Bratt rejects utterly.
“I feel these are unfair criticisms, notably the concept that she was purchased off,” Bratt mentioned.
“However this simply throws a hand grenade into the United Conservative management race. … If (candidates together with Danielle Smith who oppose COVID-19 restrictions) hear that Hinshaw received a bonus for advising these well being restrictions, it’s going to be an enormous political subject after immediately.”
Twitter: @jasonfherring
