Former People’s Alliance leader Kris Austin urges his new colleagues in the Conservative Progressive Caucus to try to merge the two regional health authorities in New Brunswick.
Austin, who joined the PC government caucus in March, says in an email obtained by CBC News that he would like to discuss the idea of the merger during a “priority-setting exercise” in a withdrawal from the caucus. party next week in Miramichi.
The Fredericton-Grand Lake MLA wrote its email in response to a request for discussion topics. He said he would like to talk about “bringing Horizon and Vitalité together in a single provincial authority.”
“This could help streamline services / resources and reduce competition among current health authorities,” he wrote.
Austin is tackling a burning language issue in the same way that the Higgs government is campaigning to win two by-elections in constituencies with major French-speaking populations.
Prime Minister Blaine Higgs and Health Minister Dorothy Shephard immediately rejected the idea.
“We are not merging Vitalité or Horizon or Ambulance New Brunswick,” Higgs said, adding that few of his MPs supported the idea.
“I don’t think the merger has much support. I think there’s a lot of support to ensure we build a better health system together.”
Shephard agreed. “In my opinion, there is no merger conversation.”
In his email, Austin says the merger should be done “while maintaining the requirements of the [Official Languages Act] and the linguistic composition of the regions where each hospital / clinic is located “.
As the leader of the Alliance, Austin complained that there was an unnecessary duplication between Horizon, which operates primarily in English, and Vitalité, which is administered primarily in French.
Each authority is required to provide services to the public in both official languages.
Austin told reporters Wednesday that when he left the PC, his understanding was that he could raise issues but that he would have to live with the party’s position.
“Obviously, I am not the Minister of Health and I respect what the Minister of Health decides at the end of the day, but these are the kinds of conversations that need to be held in this province,” he said.
“Not a language issue”
As long as the system meets the requirements for bilingual service, Austin said, he believes a single entity would reduce competition for staff and resources.
“For me, this is not a language problem. This is a topic of good health care.”
Austin, who founded the Alliance and led it until March, has always insisted that he does not oppose official bilingualism, but opposes certain ways of implementing it, including the existence of the two authorities. sanitary ware.
But this position is anathema to francophones who see regional health authorities as constitutionally protected and fundamental to their minority language rights.
Prime Minister Blaine Higgs has previously complained about the two-authority system for hospitals, but ruled out a merger. (Ed Hunter / CBC)
Higgs has also complained in the past about the two health authorities, but as prime minister has ruled out a merger, calling instead for the two entities to coordinate more services.
On Wednesday, he said the designation of the testing lab to Dr. Georges-L de Vitalité. Moncton Dumont Hospital as the official provincial testing lab is an example of the coordination you want to see.
Another example, he said, would be to simplify the ability of a patient from one health authority to go to the other authority’s hospital if he or she is less busy.
“The issue we’re talking about is coordinated health care. It’s not about a merger. There will be no discussion about a merger, because that’s not on the table.”
Austin said coordination was good, but “there’s always more room for that.”
The opposition, both liberals and greens, condemned the idea of a merger.
“They can discuss anything they want. I will not try to influence their caucus conversations,” said Liberal leader Roger Melanson. “But I can tell you one thing: I’m sure we’ll step in and talk out loud if something happens. [the system] negatively “.
Green MP Megan Mitton said that apart from the risk to language equality, “the last thing we need is more centralization in health care. Decision-making is moving further and further away from our communities. and we have to stop it. “
Alliance founder and fellow MP Michelle Conroy left the party on March 30 and joined the PC caucus.
Austin said at the time that joining the PC government caucus was not about “attenuating anyone’s voice.”
“I think the opposite. I think it’s about strengthening that voice and being at the table, instead of being outside trying to make changes.”
Higgs noted that there have been several examples of internal disagreements in his caucus coming to light, and he did not regret that the incorporation of two Alliance MPs had caused more.
“I’d rather have … the discussion open, rather than a lot of separate discussions, so let’s chart a path for us collectively. And then it’s resolved and we move on.”
Austin wrote the email Tuesday in response to Higgs chief of staff Louis Léger.
Léger wrote to all PC MPs and many political employees and senior public officials to set out the agenda for a two-day party caucus retreat in Miramichi next Wednesday and Thursday.
He asked all MPs to list “two things you are interested in ‘fixing’ before the end of our term”.
The second issue suggested by Austin was the continuation of tax and fee reductions.
A reporter noted Wednesday that Austin was wearing a purple tie, the color of his old party.
“I have a lot of purple ties in my closet, as you can imagine,” he explained. “So I’m still going to get some new colored ties. But good luck.”