SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Controversy is erupting around Premier Floyd Roland's latest choice for deputy minister of Health and Social Services.

Hired in July, Paddy Meade is at the centre of some heated debate in Alberta over the bonus she received as part of her severance package after she was let go from her job as the executive operating officer for the Alberta Health Services Board.

Meade received $1.3 million in salary and bonuses after nine months heading the super board system she helped create. Although she only worked nine months, she was paid a $1 million salary meant to cover two years of work, and a $257,000 bonus before departing.

Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett told an Edmonton-based newspaper that the Alberta government decided to eliminate her position to improve the lines of communication.

Meade was hired by Roland to replace Dana Heide, who was serving as acting deputy minister for Health and Social Services for most of this year. According to a press release issued July 29, Meade "brings to her new position a varied and extensive administrative career within the health care industry."

When Yellowknifer asked to speak to Roland about the appointment, Drew Williams, press secretary to the premier and cabinet, said Roland would not be available to speak to the issue Tuesday and that his secretary to cabinet Dave Ramsden would be the best person to comment.

"While the premier did appointment Ms. Meade, he did so on the advice of his secretary to cabinet who conducted the search and subsequent hiring process," said Williams.

The Alberta government's Liberal opposition is outraged over the severance packages paid out to Meade and a host of other middle and high-ranking health officials. Edmonton-Gold Bar Liberal MLA Hugh MacDonald told the Edmonton Journal that the Progressive Conservative government needs to stop handing out such "lavish" bonuses.

"Taxpayers should be outraged," MacDonald was quoted in a front page story appearing Sept. 2.

"This conduct does not make any sense ... why is it necessary when we are so short of cash to give her this quarter of a million dollars?"

In 2008, the cash-strapped health board, which currently faces a $1.3 billion deficit, paid out $22.5 million in severance deals, which amounts to one-quarter of the $80 million budget set up to create the single super board system from nine regional health boards.