B.C.’s first attempt at cutting costs inside a health authority is proving to be a bewildering affair, with news that the $400,000 boss brought in to oversee the exercise will not produce a written report, has no deadline for the work and was given no target for savings.

Health Minister Josie Osborne made the admissions to the legislature while getting grilled by Opposition critics during her budget estimates. Although she promised that Dr. Penny Ballem would give an initial set of recommendations on efficiencies inside the Provincial Health Services Authority within six weeks, Osborne balked at calls from Opposition critic Claire Rattée to release that work to the public.

“I am expecting and have requested a report on the progress in six weeks,” said Osborne.

“This isn't a form of a formal written report. So it's not something that I intend to release publicly.”

Osborne cited “cabinet confidences to be respected” as part of the rationale for keeping it secret. Plus the fact, apparently, Ballem’s recommendations may not even be written down.

Osborne fired the PHSA board March 31, moved its CEO into her ministry and installed Dr. Ballem as head of the agency to oversee an administrative review and cost-cutting exercise.

The move drew immediate criticism, both for Ballem’s high salary, her history as a senior official setting the health-care policies she’s now reviewing, and her $1.4 million in consulting fees billed to the government........

© BIV