Did Minister Michel Chebat Try to Remove the Ministry’s F.O.?

Michel Chebat

So, there you heard Flowers allege that the officers were being transferred at the orders of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Michel Chebat.  But it doesn’t end there, according to Flowers, because the minister himself, allegedly, tried to get rid of a senior finance officer in his ministry and told her she would be moved to another ministry.  According to Flowers, Chebat acted outside the scope of his authority. He explains.

Dean Flowers

Dean Flowers, 1st Vice President, P.S.U.

“I want to call for them to stop these types of political attacks on the public officers – on the F.O. side, a senior F.O. who has twenty-seven years I believe in the system. She was approached this morning by the Minister and the C.E.O., I understand, and she was accused of not giving them the kind of respect and regard that they would want from her. I think there was a conversation surrounding a request for their budget numbers and the officer rightfully said it is difficult to construct a budget when there is no consultation in the ministry. They are bringing in advisers upon advisers, they are dismissing people and they are hiring aides and these things affect any budget. So, there was that conversation and informed the F.O. that he is effectively ensuring that she is transferred to the Ministry of Immigration. Now, I am trying to figure out how does the Minister of Health and Wellness gets such authority to tell public officers where they will be transferred – that is not his place – that is for the public service commission.  So, this arrogance that we see continuously displayed by the minister needs to be called out.”