Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jan 17/00) - Despite the resignation of two key officials involved with the Baffin Regional Health and Social Services Board, Health Minister Ed Picco says all is still going according to plan.

Announced last fall, the three regional health boards will dissolve on April 1 and be replaced by the Government of Nunavut's Department of Health and Social Services.

Picco said that process was almost complete and would not be affected by the resignations of board chair Dennis Patterson or that of chief executive officer Jarvis Hoult.

Hoult, whose resignation is official on Jan. 31, would not comment on the reason for his departure other than to say he intends to return to the Middle East for employment.

Patterson however, quit effective immediately on Jan. 5, and said he tendered his resignation as a direct result of the actions of the government.

"I resigned because the minister appointed a trustee with executive powers," said Patterson, noting that Rosemary Cooper, the assistant deputy minister of health, had been appointed to sit as an interim trustee for the board.

By presiding over all contractual and financial matters formerly handled by Hoult and Patterson, Cooper's new role meant the board and its chair would act more as an advisory body than a decision-making power.

"It was obvious to me the government wants to step up the transition. Having been the chair of the board in the traditional sense, it was not possible or appropriate to suddenly become an advisor," said Patterson.

"It was the government's decision. They have every right to make the decision and the power to appoint the trustee," he added.

When asked how he felt about the department assuming its new role two-and- a-half months ahead of schedule, Patterson said he had no hard feelings about the incident.

"I feel like a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. It was quite a major responsibility and personally, I'm feeling that it's been a difficult two years. It's not part of my life anymore."

Picco, who maintained that he did not force Patterson's hand or cause his resignation, said that vice- chair Timut Qamukaq would take over as chair and that Kivalliq health board CEO Keith Best would also serve as the Baffin CEO until a new one could be recruited.

As for who will convey local health and social services concerns to the government following the dissolution of the community-based health board representatives, Picco said that a decision had been reached.

After consulting with mayors across the territory, he said it was decided that establishing community health committees in each hamlet would be the most effective and sensitive method of ensuring residents had a vehicle for communicating their needs to the department.

Picco said he would provide each committee with $5,000 for honoraria -- at a total cost of $130,000 to the territory -- and would also offer training to the individuals involved.

"It goes hand in hand with community empowerment because you're giving control of the delivery of programs and services at the community level," said Picco.

He also added that the decision did not mean the department would be forced to follow separate agendas for each of Nunavut's individual communities.

"The direction will come from the Department of Health as opposed to three different regions doing three different things. Now the department will work in conjunction with our 26 communities."