COMMENTARY: Health P.E.I. governance failure can’t be blamed on one CEO

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COMMENTARY: Health P.E.I. governance failure can’t be blamed on one CEO

The abrupt dismissal of Melanie Fraser last week raises an important question for Islanders: who is actually responsible for running our health system?

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For about 15 years, the answer for many Islanders was supposed to be Health P.E.I. Created as a Crown corporation in 2010, its governance model was designed to mirror other modern public-sector organizations. Government would set policy and priorities – for example improving access to primary care, managing system capacity and ensuring accountability for results – while the board and its CEO would be responsible for operations.

That separation of roles is not just an administrative detail. It is the foundation of effective governance in public institutions.

Independent oversight

A Crown corporation board is not meant to function as a ceremonial body or advisory committee. Its role is to provide independent oversight of the organization, establish strategic direction within government policy, ensure that resources are used effectively and hold the chief executive accountable for operational performance. In other words, the board exists to provide the disciplined governance that large and complex public organizations........

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