Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 13/01) - It may make sense to the Stanton Regional Hospital, but privatization at the hospital makes no sense for Esther Semmler.
Semmler, 59, planned to retire with a full government pension in February, but was notified in April she was among nine Stanton cleaning and laundry staff whose work is going to be contracted out.
"To go back to school doesn't make any sense for someone who wants to retire," said the 26-year government employee, adding promises of re-training have so far rang empty.
"When we ask, they don't have any place to train us."
Semmler said one option she is considering is taking a five-month leave without pay to reach her retirement date.
Spurred by a financial squeeze, the hospital has extended the range of services it contracts out.
"It was started in part as a response to the financial circumstances we found ourselves in last year," said Stanton's chief executive officer Dennis Cleaver.
The hospital finished the 1999-2000 financial year with a $1.6-million deficit. Cleaver said the board will have another deficit this year, but said he could not say how much until the figures are presented to the hospital board later this month.
"It's not unusual to work with the private sector," Cleaver said, noting private companies provide the hospital with air service, security and food services.
Deputy minister of the Department of Health, Mark Cleveland, said the department has not recommended privatizing services in budget discussions it has had with hospital administrators.
Health Minister Jane Groenewegen said privatization is not part of the terms of reference of a review of the health care system due for release June 25.
"I don't think it's a foreign concept, but neither do I feel it's a direction we're going either," said the minister.
Under the government's staff retention policy, redundant staff are offered education leave or early retirement and given priority in hiring for other government jobs.
The Stanton privatization first became public Monday, when Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent raised it in the legislative assembly.
Dent said the issue highlights the need to clarify who is responsible for informing the public of such decisions.
