UCP leadership candidates at odds over Alberta public health official pay bonuses

Several UCP leadership candidates who served in cabinet posts say they didn't know about the pandemic cash bonuses awarded to Alberta's chief medical officer of health and 106 other managers.

Leadership hopeful Travis Toews' spokesperson, Christine Myatt, said the former finance minister didn't authorize or have knowledge of a nearly $228,000 cash bonus paid to Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw in 2021.

Myatt referred further questions to the government.

Fellow leadership contender and former Community and Social Services Minister Rajan Sawhney also said via email she was not part of the decision and is "unfamiliar with the specific circumstances involved."

She, like many candidates, has pledged to hold a public inquiry into the Alberta government's response to COVID-19. Sawhney said this would include the roles played by health officials.

Leadership hopeful Leela Aheer, who was shuffled out of cabinet in July 2021, said the Alberta government owes the public an explanation of how the additional $2.4 million in pandemic pay given to 107 managers was calculated.

She worries those civil servants are being unfairly targeted for a decision beyond their control.

"We need to make sure that people understand what we're doing and why," Aheer said. "The reason the public is outraged right now is they don't understand."

Government spokespeople have not answered questions about who approved the additional pay. 

The government has said the bonus pay was determined using a formula the public service commission uses to compensate managers for excessive overtime during public emergencies.

CBC News reached out to Rebecca Schulz for a response but, at the time of publishing, hadn't received a response. 

Leadership hopefuls who weren't in cabinet scoffed at the idea the former ministers were unaware of the expense.

"Cabinet has made two years of bad decisions," MLA and leadership candidate Brian Jean said. "And this is one more of the latest insults. Cabinet needs to explain how this happened. All the money comes from the same place."

Independent MLA Todd Loewen, who is also seeking party leadership, is also pledging to hold an investigation into pandemic management if party members chose him as leader. He said in a video posted on Facebook on Tuesday that managers receiving bonus pay doesn't make him feel any better about the government's choices.