Share this Story : PNI Atlantic News Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

JOCELYNE LLOYD: Political interference causes upheaval at Health P.E.I.

Prince Edward Island is hard on our Health P.E.I. executives. We’re almost running through them faster than premiers lately, with four different people holding the title of CEO in a little over two years and other roles on the leadership team being filled by a rotating cast.

Subscribe now to access this story and more:

Unlimited access to the website and app

Exclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcasts

Full access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on

Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists

Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists

Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.

Unlimited access to the website and app

Exclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcasts

Full access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on

Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists

Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists

Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.

Access additional stories every month

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting community

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

To be fair, one of those CEOs was Corinne Rowswell, who was specifically appointed as a placeholder in January 2024 to keep the place running while the province searched for a replacement for Dr. Michael Gardam.

Gardam, you’ll remember, had announced that he intended to resign at the end of March 2024, but he was gone by January after some public disagreements with then premier Dennis King’s government.

Appearing before a standing committee after his abrupt departure, Gardam said, “I was told that point blank, right? I have to get on board with the medical school. And my answer, unfortunately, is more nuanced than that. I can get on board with the concept. I can’t get on board with how it’s being done.”

Non-disparagement clause

So it was interesting to discover when a new permanent CEO was hired in February 2024 that her contract included a non-disparagement clause.

Melanie Fraser’s employment contract, obtained by The Guardian via freedom of information, restricted her from making or encouraging others to make statements “that defame or disparage the personal or institutional reputation, practices or conduct of the employer, government or any of their respective representatives.”

If the last guy was too mouthy, it seemed the government was going to make........

© PNI Atlantic news