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Saskatoon

Wall satisfied that firing of health care worker was fair

Premier Brad Wall says he is assured that Bowden was fired for unrelated reasons, not for speaking out about senior care.

Peter Bowden was fired with cause by Saskatoon Health Region after lengthy investigation

Peter Bowden, a front line care aide worker, was suspended and later fired from his position at Oliver Lodge in Saskatoon. (Lauren Golosky/CBC)

Premier Brad Wall saidhe's satisfied that the firing of a health-care worker who complained about conditions in his workplacewas fair.

"There was a process that was undertaken by the region and my understanding is the CEO of the region has commented that the firinghad nothing to do with him coming forward, " Wall said to reporters Monday.

Peter Bowden, a care aide at Oliver Lodge in Saskatoon, came to thelegislature in Marchto complain aboutthe care he saidsome of the seniors were receiving at the home.

I just want to be clear to health care workersthat that legislatureis theirlegislature, and they should feel free to raise anyconcerns they have...- Premier Brad Wall

The following month, he wassuspended with pay. Bowdensaid he believed he was suspended for speaking out.

But Wall said he is assured that the health region fired Bowden with cause, for incidents that occurred prior to him raising concerns.

"I just want to be clear to health-care workersthat that legislatureis theirlegislature, and they should feel free to raise anyconcerns they have with the opposition, with ourMLAs,with anybody the media,with letters to the editors.That's how frankly our attention is drawn to issues, how governmentcan respond."

Privacy commissioner report released Tuesday

Walls comments come the day before the province's information and privacy commissioner will release his findings into the handling of the file by the government.

Shortly after Bowden's suspension,agovernment official sent an emailto the mediasayingBowden had been disciplined for incidents related to patient care and harassment of other staff and residents.

The privacy commissioner has been investigating if that communication broke any rules.

Bowden'sunion has advised him not to speak to media.

A spokesperson saidthe union is disappointed the health region spoke to media on the issue, andit is seeking advice on how to best representBowden.