New Brunswick Health Minister Refuses to Give Vitalité CEO Vote of Confidence

New Brunswick’s health minister, Bruce Fitch, has sparked controversy by refusing to give a vote of confidence to Dr. France Desrosiers, the CEO of the Vitalité health authority, in light of a scathing audit regarding the health authority’s contracts with Canadian Health Labs.

Fitch’s refusal to comment on whether Desrosiers should remain in her position comes after Auditor General Paul Martin criticized Vitalité for signing contracts with Canadian Health Labs that did not demonstrate value for money and did not follow best practices. The audit also highlighted the health authority’s failure to seek bids from other companies and to submit the agreements for legal review.

Despite the criticism, Fitch avoided directly addressing whether the Vitalité board should terminate Desrosiers, emphasizing that the decision now rests with the board. He defended the Department of Social Development’s contract with Canadian Health Labs for travel nurses in long-term care homes, signed during his tenure as minister, stating that decisions had to be made quickly during the COVID-19 crisis.

The opposition Liberals raised concerns about the lack of checks and balances in the contracts and questioned why they were not put out for bids. Fitch, however, defended the government’s actions, prioritizing saving lives in nursing homes over procedural matters.

The controversy surrounding Desrosiers and the contracts with Canadian Health Labs has put a spotlight on governance and accountability in New Brunswick’s health system, raising questions about transparency and decision-making processes within the health authority.