Ombudsperson Jay Chalke has done the province a huge favour by producing a comprehensive, highly detailed account of the thoroughly bungled investigation within the Health Ministry that led to firings, suspensions and layoffs, and put vital research on hold.
Chalke falls short, however, by being too kind. He suggests, for example, that it鈥檚 too late to do anything about the people responsible for what might be the most despicable misuse of power, and the greatest rejection of accepted human-resources principles, in the B.C. Liberals鈥� time in office.
Careers have been destroyed. One person committed suicide. We will never know the long-term damage caused by the suspension of the research that was being done.
The notion that the people responsible should not be held to account is sickening.
These investigators, as Chalke points out, made up their minds because of beliefs, not facts. If they are still employed by the ministry, no Health employee can feel safe.
Yet Chalke wants to give them a pass. The ministry, he says on page 385 of his report, 鈥渟hould extend an invitation to current public servants who were part of the investigation team to participate in the reconciliation process, to the extent they wish and in a manner that is appropriate.鈥�
In other words: If they feel like talking about it, that鈥檚 OK. If they would rather not talk, well, that鈥檚 OK too.
That鈥檚 not all. Chalke has given the government 51 weeks to provide written apologies to the victims of the purge. The deadline is March 31, 2018. No, that鈥檚 not a typo.
We need action, real action, without delay. These recommendations are unacceptable.
