Gardam told not to do any more work for Health P.E.I., a week earlier than planned

Former Health P.E.I. CEO Dr. Michael Gardam says he's been told he won't be doing any more work with the agency, a day after he spoke frankly at a provincial legislative committee.

The former CEO had a week left of work, including talks with Island's family doctors

Devon Goodsell CBC News Posted: Jan 25, 2024 4:40 PM EST | Last Updated: January 25

A bearded man with glasses stands in a doctors office looking at the camera. — Following a tense legislature committee meeting on Wednesday, Dr. Michael Gardam says he was told to stop doing work for Health P.E.I. as of Thursday, a week earlier than his planned departure. (Craig Chivers/CBC)

Former Health P.E.I. CEO Dr. Michael Gardam says he's been told he won't be doing any more work with the agency, a day after he spoke frankly at a provincial legislative committee hearing.

That committee appearanceincluded warnings that the province's health-care system is in danger of collapse, and a heated exchange between Gardam and Progressive Conservative MLA Steven Myersover who said what about the Summerside Hospital's intensive care unit.

During his testimony, Gardam also spoke ofinterference from the premier's office after he raised concerns in publicabout the new medical school at UPEI.

Gardam stepped down as the CEO at the end of December but was due to stayon Health P.E.I.'s payroll as a consultant until March.

Video
Heated exchange between former Health P.E.I. CEO, PC MLA over state of health care

Myers accuses former Health P.E.I. CEO of lying in fiery legislative committee exchange

He had another week of work ahead of him, which included planned negotiations with the P.E.I. Medical Society on a new master agreement with family physicians, before he planned to takevacation using time he was owed.

On Thursday, while confirming he had been told he would no longer be doing any more work with the agency, Gardam declined to comment any further.

Corinne Rowswell, chief operating officer Health PEI — Corinne Rowswell, the former chief operating officer of Health P.E.I., has been the agency's interim chief executive officer since Jan. 1, when Gardam's resignation from that job became official. (Brittany Spencer/CBC)

In an email to CBC News, Health P.E.I. said Gardam's current status was "a personnel matter, which is confidential."

Earlier in the afternoon, P.E.I. Premier Dennis King was beinginterviewed byCBC News: Compassaboutthe allegations Gardam had made Wednesday.

I don't get into the day-to-day operations. P.E.I. Premier Dennis King

Asked whetherGardam was still working for Health P.E.I.,King said he didn't know.

"I think that he retired the first of the year I don't get into the day-to-day operations of that," he said.

"Usually when someone like Dr. Gardam leaves their position, they would have some overtime. So whether he's on the payroll there or not I don't know, but I know the system is getting ready for a new CEO."

Corinne Rowswellis acting asthe interim CEO of Health P.E.I. for the time being; she had been chief operating officer of the agency since May 2021.

With files from Steve Bruce

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News

Corrections and clarifications|Submit a news tip|