Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw. (Canadian Press)

By David Opinko

"PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTED" OVER LEAK

Hinshaw: Release of secret recordings of cabinet committee a “personal betrayal”

Nov 26, 2020 | 4:51 PM

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health spoke out against an unnamed whistleblower who secretly took and released recordings of Alberta’s emergency cabinet committee.

CBC published an article Thursday morning detailing the recordings of several meetings between Dr. Hinshaw, Premier Jason Kenney, Health Minister Tyler Shandro, and other committee members.

According to CBC, the recordings reveal political motivations in the government’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and tensions between medical advisers and certain elected officials.

Prior to Thursday’s COVID-19 update, Dr. Hinshaw tweeted that, “Trust has been broken,” and that she spoke to Kenney and Shandro “to convey my disappointment with the irresponsible actions of one person.”

She then kicked off the COVID press conference with further comments about the recordings.

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“I am profoundly disappointed that confidential, internal conversations have been shared, actions that are a violation of the public service oath and code of conduct.”

“This is a personal betrayal and a betrayal of trust that our hard-working team has placed in each other.”

Dr. Hinshaw says the comments in the CBC report are taken out of context, separated from the many other conservations that would have taken place in the days before and afterward.

“These meetings should be a safe space where public servants have candid and ongoing conversations and debates. The safety and trust are now broken.”

Part of her role as the Chief Medical Officer of Health is to provide recommendations to the provincial government that are based on the best available science. It is then up to the elected members of government to make decisions.

“I have always felt that my ideas are respectfully-considered. I have always had respectful discussions between public servants and with elected officials. I do not dictate every detail of each policy decision and I should not. I was not elected by Albertans.”

“This is how democracy works.”

Shandro also took the opportunity to respond to the media reports.

He called Dr. Hinshaw “one of the finest medical officers of health in the country.”

Shandro stated that his one and only concern with the release of the tapes was that it “violated Dr. Hinshaw’s confidence and that it embarrassed her.”

“I called Dr. Hinshaw this morning to tell her that she has nothing to apologize for and that she has my full confidence.”

At the heart of the issue was Tuesday’s announcement of new COVID-19 restrictions from the Government of Alberta and the re-declaration of the State of Public Health Emergency.

Several members of the media had asked Dr. Hinshaw whether all of her recommendations for new measures were adopted by the government.

She explained that she presented a range of policy options and reiterated that she has always felt respected by the cabinet committee.