Latest news with #CarsonBinda
Global News
13-06-2025
- Health
- Global News
Performance-based pay hikes for IH execs criticized amid Kelowna doctor shortage
Performance-based pay increases given to top Interior Health (IH) brass amid a physician shortage crisis at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) are being criticized by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). 'Taxpayers should be deeply concerned at the culture in Interior Health that's allowing this to happen,' said Carson Binda, B.C.'s director with the CTF. A shortage of physicians has already closed down the entire pediatric ward for at least six weeks and the maternity clinic is no longer accepting patients. It's a situation that doctors have publicly blamed on mismanagement by IH, saying the staffing model has been failing for years and has resulted in physician resignations. In 2023, seven pediatricians quit working at the hospital, the same year that a number of top executives received those performance-based pay hikes. Story continues below advertisement Through public documents, Global News has learned that in most cases, the executives received a 6.7-per cent increase including Interior Health CEO Susan Brown. Brown's total compensation, with that pay increase, jumped to $472, 607. One executive received a 12-per cent increase that year from a promotion. 'It's unacceptable for bureaucrats to be taking big performance-based pay raises when the health care system they're supposed to be overseeing is in free fall,' Binda said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'If this were the private sector, pink slips would be raining down. Folks certainly wouldn't be taking big performance-based pay raises.' In an email to Global News, IH's board chair, Dr. Robert Halpenny, stated, 'Interior Health salary levels and benefits, including executive compensation, follow guidelines set by the Health Employers Association of BC. These province-wide frameworks are used across all health authorities and allow for performance-based adjustments that reflect organizational targets and responsibilities, not the circumstances of individual departments.' The statement goes on to say, 'In 2023, we added a total of 4,433 new frontline staff across a range of roles—843 full-time, 628 part-time, and 2,962 casual. We also continued to strengthen our physician workforce with 146 new doctors joining Interior Health that same year.' Conservative MLA for Kelowna-Mission Gavin Dew also expressed concern over the pay raises. Story continues below advertisement 'Things are falling apart…and yet we are rewarding leadership for what looks to me like failure,' said Dew. 2:10 Interior Health CEO speaks out on pediatric unit closure at KGH Dew. who, along with two other Conservative MLAs, met with Brown Thursday, is also raising questions whether current leadership can provide a fix given Brown is set to retire at the end of the year. 'I am not convinced that we're going to be able to restore Interior Health to balance, to restore it to function without very serious change,' he said. Dew suggested fast-tracking a leadership transition and urged B.C.'s health minister Josie Osborne to weigh in. 'The Minister of Health cannot keep sitting silent on this,' Dew said. 'She has to make a decision. She has to act. We cannot afford to wait.' Story continues below advertisement Neither Osborne nor her ministry responded to Global's request for comment.
Global News
21-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
City council to vote on permanent Vancouver sign
Vancouver council is expected to vote on Wednesday on whether to proceed with installing a large permanent Vancouver sign outside Canada Place. The sign would be similar to the temporary signs in Coal Harbour that have proved to be popular with tourists and Instagram users. A report has found that a permanent sign would cost between $550,000 and $1 million, plus $50,000 to maintain annually. Local organizations such as Destination Vancouver have agreed to chip in but staff are asking the council to commit up to $300,000 for the project. 2:07 Metro Vancouver condos sitting empty amid housing crisis Some critics are raising concerns about the price tag. Story continues below advertisement 'Look, life is hard for taxpayers right now,' Carson Binda with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation told Global News. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Families and businesses are struggling to make ends meet so it is deeply inappropriate for city council to be proposing to waste taxpayer money in such a flamboyant fashion.' If approved, the goal is to have the sign fully installed by early 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Global News
06-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Kelowna city staff reject idea of buying Canadian only, recommend no changes to procurement
Despite a 'buy Canadian only movement' amid a trade war with the U.S., staff at Kelowna City Hall are recommending council not amend its procurement bylaw to make it happen. Possible amendments were first brought up by city councillor Ron Cannan in March. But after a review of its procurement policy, a staff report recommends council stay with the status quo given the majority of its contracts are already being awarded to Canadian companies, many of them Okanagan-based including about 45 per cent in Kelowna. According to the report, which will be presented to council on Monday, 97.529 per cent of the city's purchases are Canadian and only 2.359 per cent are from the Unites States. The report also outlines that if procurement changes were made, it could limit access to specialized services and goods that can't be provided by Canadian firms. Story continues below advertisement In addition, the report states that excluding U.S. companies could drive up costs with fewer competing bids Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Taxpayers Federation agrees with staff recommending the city stick with its current policy. 'Politicians need to be laser focused right now on providing the best possible value for taxpayer money and when most of what Kelowna buys is already Canadian, roughly 98 per cent, it doesn't make sense blowing the city's budget to try to find Canadian options,' said Carson Binda, B.C. director with the federation. 2:26 Kelowna councillor calls for pro-Canadian update to city procurement policy Cannan would not comment on the staff recommendation Friday, saying mayor Tom Dyas is the spokesperson. However, in a statement to Global News, Kevin Franceschini, communications consultant for the mayor's office, stated, 'The Mayor does not comment on items before they are formally presented to Council. It is important that Council has the opportunity to review all relevant facts, receive legal and procedural clarity, and debate the matter at the Council table before any public comments are made.' Story continues below advertisement 'I think I would prefer if we paid a little bit more and shopped Canadian,' said Kelowna resident Heather Muir. 'I wish we could buy all Canadian, but I don't think we can actually,' said Michael Karabelas, another Kelowna resident. The staff report will go before council on Monday.
