Premier Jason Kenney speaking in Lethbridge Wednesday. (Lethbridge News Now)

By Canadian Press / David Opinko

Kenney rejects call to fire health minister over failed doctors contract

Mar 31, 2021 | 3:02 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is rejecting the NDP’s calls to fire his health minister following a failed wage deal with doctors.

While in Lethbridge for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Exhibition Park expansion project, Kenney says Tyler Shandro has his full support.

The premier notes Shandro was trying to get a good-faith deal done to fairly compensate doctors in a province that has faced years of revenue declines.

Doctors rejected a new deal that had been brokered by the Alberta Medical Association and Shandro.

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The previous deal was unilaterally torn up by Shandro early last year.

That ignited a public fight with the medical association’s 11,000 physicians all played out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opposition health critic David Shepherd says the vote shows doctors do not trust Shandro and a new face is needed in the health ministry to get a deal done.

(The Canadian Press)