The enemy of mine enemy is my friend and all that, but it’s not clear that supporters of sound public health policy are on the right track if they decide to portray Alberta’s former chief medical officer of health as a public health hero.
Let’s be clear, the vindictive campaign to scapegoat Dr. Deena Hinshaw and kick her out of a new public health role with Alberta Health Services as soon as she was hired because she was the public face of COVID-mitigation measures during the pandemic shows the true face of Premier Danielle Smith’s government. It is not a pretty one.
But it’s also true that as chief medical officer of health Dr. Hinshaw frequently failed to exercise her legal authority to uphold sound public health measures as then-premier Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party government swung wildly back and forth between inadequate COVID mitigation and irresponsible pandering to the party’s anti-vaccine base.
Dr. Hinshaw could have rightly been described as a hero had she used her authority to keep us from being led into Mr. Kenney’s “Best Summer Ever” in 2021. She did not.
The Best Summer Ever turned out to be disaster for Alberta, fatal for many Albertans, and a personal political catastrophe for Mr. Kenney.
Dr. Hinshaw’s role during the COVID outbreak at the Cargill meat packing plant near High River in the spring of 2020 was worse, working with then-agriculture minister Devin Dreeshen to advance a misleading narrative minimizing the risk of infection within the plant, where the disease was spreading.
At too many times during the pandemic, she bowed to the wishes of the government to minimize the danger of the disease and to rely solely on vaccinations to eliminate it.
Nevertheless, when Ms. Smith was a right-wing radio talk jock advocating quack COVID cures and engaging in borderline COVID denial, and after her return to politics, she relentlessly assailed Dr. Hinshaw for the sensible measures the CMOH imposed to control the spread of COVID-19.
In office as premier less than six months, one of Ms. Smith’s first actions was to fire Dr. Hinshaw as CMOH to appease the Q-adjacent anti-vaxxers of the cult-like Take Back Alberta faction of the UCP’s base, whose efforts had helped her to win the party leadership after they did the heavy lifting to skid Mr. Kenney.
This certainly represented a dramatic change from 2021, when Dr. Hinshaw was rewarded by the Kenney government with a $227,911 cash bonus on top of her $363,634 annual salary. It was the highest bonus ever paid to an Alberta public employee.
Ms. Smith’s government fired Dr. Hinshaw on Nov. 14, 2022, which it could do without complications because the CMOH is an independent officer of the government, not part of Alberta Health Services.
Three days later, the premier fired the entire AHS Board and replaced it with Dr. John Cowell, a former CEO of the Health Quality Council of Alberta and private-sector executive. As “Administrator,” the government said, Dr. Cowell would report to Ms. Smith and her health minister. Last Friday, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange announced the government was extending Dr. Cowell’s term as sole administrator until the end of 2023.
Meanwhile, after losing her CMOH job, Dr. Hinshaw found a temp job in British Columbia for a spell.
Early this month, though, we learned she’d been hired for a part-time gig with AHS’s Indigenous Wellness Core program. “The Indigenous Wellness Core is pleased to announce that Dr. Deena Hinshaw has been selected as the new IWC Public Health and Preventative Medicine Lead,” an internal AHS memorandum announced on June 1. She was supposed to start on June 5.
But no sooner was Dr. Hinshaw hired than she was unhired. “AHS Statement: AHS doesn’t speak to personnel matters,” the province-wide health authority tweeted on June 3, burying the lead within 15 words. “Dr. Hinshaw is not employed by AHS.”
Since then, the CBC has reported that someone at AHS pulled the plug on the decision over the wishes of the program’s medical lead, Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, who quickly herself resigned in response. The CBC said it had learned Dr. Hinshaw’s hiring had the approval of Dr. Cowell.
For her part, Ms. Smith insists it wasn’t her.
Obviously, though, the decision to re-dump Dr. Hinshaw came from someone above Dr. Cowell – notwithstanding the fiction that AHS operates at arm’s length from the government.
And the only people above Dr. Cowell are Mrs. LaGrange, who is not known for her independence of mind, and Premier Smith.
So there should be no question the buck stops in the Premier’s Office.
Clear as well is that the demands of the UCP’s Take Back Alberta faction for vindictive public retribution outweigh the wishes of Indigenous health leaders in Alberta.
We need to support Indigenous health leaders in their decisions. This should have been their call. But we also need to keep Dr. Hinshaw’s less-than-stellar public health record during her difficult term as CMOH in mind.
Deena Hinshaw cannot be called a public health hero, but she is a victim of UCP retribution for the things she did do right.
I suppose it can be believed, without fear of contradiction, that when Danielle Smith she didn’t have anything to do with something, the chances are pretty strong that not only did she have something to do with something, she also lead the initiative and threatened everyone who didn’t get in line.
Calling Dr. Hinshaw a hero is quite the stretch. Both sides of the COVID debate have slapped their respective targets on her back, establishing a free-fire zone for Hinshaw’s handling of Alberta’s public health measures. Danielle Smith has taken matters one step further and has declared that Hinshaw will never, ever work in Alberta in any medical or public health capacity. Short of nailing DO NOT HIRE notices on every cork board in Alberta, this is what Smith has in effect done. Moreover, Smith has also put it out there that this is how she intends to treat anyone and everyone who has crossed her. Make no mistake about it: Smith/TBA are in control of Alberta and very soon every facet of its society will be governed by their whims.
Having attended one of TBA’s events, I got a look first hand at David Parker and where his mindset is, and it’s not pretty. He is a small man filled with grievance and complaints, where ever slight is a reason for revenge. He operates with the enthusiasm of a home-schooled religious zealot, who sees every contradiction to his world-view as perverted, deviant, and dangerous. This is the same person who stood in a public square in Calgary and spouted off a litany of Q-Conspiracy meant to drive his followers into an antiLGBTQ2 frenzy. He is a weird, real life incarnation of The Handmaid’s Tale antagonist Commander Fred Waterford, and he has every intention of making good on using Danielle Smith to further his agenda.
He is a weird, real life incarnation of The Handmaid’s Tale antagonist Commander Fred Waterford
I may have to break down and read the book. I hate being compelled to read good literature.
Handmaids Tale is a TV series. No need to read the book. Just watch the series from the beginning. Netflix.
The Book is better than the series.
As a First Nations woman the First Nations board needs to give their head a shake! Hinshaw is responsible for all the crap in Alberta right beside Kenny! I’m glad AHS fired her! Our people have succumbed to genocide before due to the government!
I think the commentariat — especially the rational, pro-public health side (our host included) — was a bit hard on Dr Hinshaw. There were a number of occasions when pundits were arguing that she should have resigned her post rather than accede to the Kenney Government’s direction on COVID protection measures. But we cannot know what personal or family constraints she was working under that might have prevented her from doing so, and she may also have been trying to influence policy from the inside rather than quitting to become a lonely voice from the outside.
In my view, the most salient aspect of this de-hiring is the slap in the face of the Indigenous Wellness Core and its leadership. It’s no surprise that Dr Tailfeathers resigned over this insult.
One of the stories I read about this issue reported that Dr. Hinshaw had already been in-serviced in her new position, which in my mind means she had already started her term of employment.
My question, then, is will she be getting severance from AHS? I assume she is still collecting the severance she must have negotiated as compensation for being fired without cause from her role as CMOH.
Dr. Hinshaw was always in a precarious position, on one hand trying to speaking truth and scientific reality, then on the other hand only letting on what the politicians wanted to be told. To throw the UCP gang under the bus would have no doubt ended her career much quicker than it did.
Very accurate “Old Albertan.” Dr. Hinshaw was born, raised, and largely educated in Alberta. She learned her behavior from her elders and their social context. Think of what happened to another public health official, Dr. David Swan who was fired when he made the anodyne observation that lowering air pollution from oil and gas activity might be good for public health. How about the attacks on Dr. John O’Connor because he raised concerns about disproportionately high rates of cancer in Fort Chipewyan, downstream from Ft. Mac? High rates that were also recognized by the Alberta Cancer Board. He was hounded out of Alberta and was lucky to retain his medical licence despite being internationally recognized for his courage and insight.
In a single-party authoritarian state like Alberta, the rule of law is entirely optional when it conflicts with Party policy or the Great Leader. No doubt Dr. Hinshaw thought she could do some good while avoiding being summarily fired for doing her job as Dr. Swan was.
Here is a joke for Alberta courtesy of Brezhnev’s Russia:
Apparently, elephants are trampling all the grain crops in Alberta, so Premier Smith sends in the Alberta Police to shoot them. One policeman picks up a trembling rabbit. “Why are you trembling little rabbit?” he asks.
“The Great Premier Smith has ordered that all elephants are to be shot!” replied the rabbit. “So, what are you worried about, you’re just a little rabbit?”
“I know, but I can’t prove it!” the rabbit wailed.
I entirely agree, but I do have one minor quibble: it’s Dr David Swann … double-‘n’.
Jerry and Kang: My apologies. I should have caught that. Pressure of deadlines. DJC
During the NDP government, UCP spin masters would claim that while the NDP had no control over the world price of oil, the policies they implemented made the situation worse.
I think of that claim whenever something like this comes up. There is a world wide shortage of qualified medical professionals, so Alberta’s doctor shortage is not just a result of UCP policies. At the same time, however, I do wonder how detrimental the government’s treatment of Dr. Hinshaw is to our ability to attract new doctors.
Hi Bob. We may have a clue to Alberta’s chance of hiring doctors, in the fact that Bob Cowell, the “temporary” administrator of AHS, had his term extended to the end of this year. Could that mean Smith’s government has tried to hire administrators for AHS–and failed? Time will tell….
Mike and Bob: I’m sure Janet Davidson is still available to work from her home on Vancouver island for an appropriately huge consulting fee. DJC
She could have done her research and told the truth but she didn’t. These consequences are minor and she should fell very lucky that she didn’t have to face true justice for her crimes.
Smoke ’em if you got ’em, Albertans! It’s moderately good for you.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw’s memoirs of this period, if it happens, will be an interesting read….
Indeed! I will buy that book.
An impressive and fair statement of facts. We should also remember that our new health minister was “in charge ” for the 3 weeks in August 2021 when our premier ws on vacation in Europe.
Anti vaccers continue to WIN in this government’s actions – can’t wait until we see the 2 million $ Manning report .
Victim or not, Hinshaw gets zero sympathy from me for being Kenney’s puppet and not doing the maximum within her power to help protect Albertans during the pandemic. That video of her (that was released shortly after the Best Summer Ever, if memory serves) where she arrogantly smirked and admitted they were wrong to open the province so early was unforgiveable. She should never hold a public position again, full stop. In fact I’ll take it a step further and say as part of her comeuppance she should not only be stripped of her medical license but she should be forced to spend the rest of her working life as a day labourer at the Cargill plant.
It might be observed correctly that behavior wise, “What’s past is prologue” ; where, past behavior and its programming remains a reliable predictor of current and/or future behavior. That is, the vindictive, “committed” narcissist acting as “somebody else’s pawn”.
Apparently, the organ grinder, operating in the background, needs the monkey as much as the monkey needs the organ grinder, or as confidence operators need their accomplices/shills. Anyone who has been alive long enough has seen this game played out over and over again on multiple levels with varying sophistication, i.e., “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
For example,
“Pollock saw Smith as a mere lackey of the province. “To paraphrase what she said: ‘We are here to rubber-stamp this Conservative government’, ” Pollock says. “Right off the bat, I was not impressed by Danielle’s willingness to learn or her level of understanding. I just saw that she was somebody else’s pawn, and she would do what they said. That’s not a good character trait in a politician.”
What would be surprising is that it were any other way, contrary to the nature of the beast.
The UCP makes a big mess of anything they touch. Dr. Deena Hinshaw was successfully thrown under the bus by the UCP. How many lives were put in jeopardy by the UCP, during the Covid-19 pandemic in Alberta? There could be lawsuits against the UCP, and that should be interesting to see how those end up.
Certainly no hero, but she did get paid handsomely for her first trip under the UCP bus. This second one, on the other hand is despicable. Cowell just got his bonus. I’d say he’s next.
Hinshaw and her accomplices (Kenney & Notley) all pushed unlawful Covid restrictions. These were illegal and based on a global lie by the like of Fauci and the WHO. She is no different then these mass murderers.
Daniel Smith relieved her from her position because of her failure to listen to real experts. AHS had no authority via their own policies to hire Hinshaw back. She needs to be in jail!!!!
OK, Dear Readers, Todd is all yours! DJC
Why bother? You can lead a fool to knowledge, but you can’t make them think.
There is no point in engaging anti-vaxx conspiracy theorists like Todd. It’s a waste of ink … or, well, bytes.
Dearest Toad; I entirely concur! What a botch up! We had the opportunity to cull the herd and some wilting lilies prevented it! God’s will was prevented! Say WTF?!! Please don’t add to the gene pool! Mrs. Toad? He’s yours. Likely large! https://youtu.be/UmwLKU5DIGk
I ran out of question marks, due to the UCP brain dead Zombies like Todd, eating them all! https://youtu.be/ZfNb1w7pVcA
Have a smoke, Todd. It’s the best thing for you.
Todd, don’t go away angry, just go away!
Mr. Todd , I found the information you need….
Can a horse get too much ivermectin?
Clinical relevance : Ivermectin toxicosis is an uncommonly reported condition in equids that should be considered when acute neurologic impairment develops after Ivermectin administration. Recovery is possible with supportive care and time.
https:// pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>
We certainly hope this helps, wishing you the best, from Wilbur and the gang.
And here we go with the conspiracy theories. I suggest you look up critical thinking skills and the definition of credible sources of information.
“…burying the lead within 15 words.”
I believe it’s “burying the lede”, although “lede” was a technical term or jargon for “lead” maybe “lead” is considered an acceptable alternative nowadays. At any rate, just wanted to mention it.
David: It was the begging of the end when journalists started doing things like spelling lead lede. The Internet just finished it off. Or are you going to tell me you red it in a book? DJC
You crack me up! In a good way! Keep it up. Give us strategy and tactics. We need them! The onslaught of the F___ists is exhausting!
During the pandemic, I thought that Dr. Hinshaw should have stood up against the UCP for what she thought was right as the CMOH. Having said that, she was interviewed and recommended by the Indigenous Wellness Core as the best person for a job that affects indigenous health care. If we don’t listen, can we say that indigenous people have a voice?
To paraphrase and slightly modify a common saying these days, bad decisions have consequences. In this case, its really like a cascading series of bad decisions.
Where does one start here? The first bad decision perhaps was Kenney’s, who maybe thought it clever and handy to hide behind Hinshaw when he made decisions that made various people unhappy. Look what it got him in the end, he is now out of a job with a diminished political reputation.
The second bad decision was Hinshaw’s to play along with it. Yes, he was her boss, but that does remove her responsiility for her role in enabling choices that weren’t consistent with the best medical practices. In the end, she was out of a job to, with enhamced financial compensation, but diminished integrity and reputation.
Can you see a trend here? Some people just don’t learn, but keep on making mistakes. The UCP seems determined to repeat its bad decisions. Perhaps the person making them now will also eventually end up out of a job with a diminished reputation too.
Solid take, I agree 100%. Dr. Hinshaw’s un-hiring is an outrageous abuse of power. Dr. Hinshaw’s refusal to exercise her power in a responsible fashion during the height of covid was also outrageous.
Interestingly enough, both articles on this issue on the CBC website are apparently open for comments, but no comments are visible. Well, they were visible for a short while on the first article, describing Hinshaw’s firing, but that didn’t last out the day.
Good summary, David – I think that you’re absolutely right about this being UCP vindictiveness in action.
Ms Hinshaw has the look of somebody who was brow-beaten under a bare lightbulb, maybe in a war-room someplace. What do you bet she was selected for the job for her ‘doe-in-the-headlights’ expression (the eyes have it)?
I always felt (and still do), that Hinshaw regretted accepting the post before she did (or didn’t do) anything, and surely does—now and forever. I’d just like to know if sacrificing her reputation the way she did was a her own rationale that if she didn’t do it, somebody worse would, or if it was suggested to her from a shadowy corner of a bulb-lit cell that if she didn’t do it, somebody worse would.
I don’t doubt she’s confessed her feelings about it once she was freed from the zenith of her captivity—at least discretely. There’ve been opportunities like her sojourn to BC and her brief spell with Indigenous Health Core. Doctors do have colleagues, friends and family, too. She never looked comfortable under the public spotlight (that, too, could have been a selection factor), but could she be as stoic in private?
And that book…well, somebody could help her with it if needs. Surely it would sell well. Otherwise it’s hard for us to imagine what it must have been like for her at the fulcrum of Alberta’s deep dive.