CHUM resignations need to be examined, Qubec Solidaire says

Qubec Solidaire is demanding the government call a parliamentary committeeto delve into the resignations of key people at the helm of the CHUM, Montreals French-language university hospital centre.

• Opposition calls for Gatan Barrette to step down over CHUM resignations

The call comes afterCHUM's CEO, Jacques Turgeon, and the chairman of the board, Jean-Claude Deschnes,both announced their resignations on Friday.

That move prompted opposition parties to ask Health Minister Gatan Barrette to step down, after he was accused of abusing his power and repeatedly interferingwith the hospital's governance and staffing.

In a statement issued late Friday afternoon, a CHUM spokesperson said other board members also quit over the affair. According to Radio-Canada,Michel Gervais, Jean Bragagnolo and Paul Perrotte are among those who resigned.

Matthew Pearce, board member and director of the Old Brewery Mission, said he is also weighing his options in light of the other resignations.

Pearcesaid he was not pleased with Barrette's bedside manner, adding that the CHUM has lost some of its best people for no good reason.

Barrette a bully?

Qubec Solidaire now says it believes Barrette could have intimidated the hospitals administrative board.

Party MP Amir Khadir, who is also a medical doctor, said Turgeon and Deschness resignations have destabilized the citys hospital network. He said they came after years of turbulence within the network.

Khadir said Barrette suffers from a serious attitude problem, accusing him of denigrating or intimidating those who do not agree with him and those who refuse to obey him.

He said Barrette and the two former administrators should appear before a parliamentary committee to shed light on the goings-on at the CHUM.