Dr. Janet Tootoosis. (Submitted photo/Saskatchewan Ministry of Health)

By Angela Brown

SHA leadership changes

North Battleford’s Dr. Tootoosis departs from SHA Board

Dec 8, 2021 | 5:02 PM

A North Battleford doctor has departed from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Board of Directors, of which she is one of the founding members.

The SHA confirmed that Dr. Janet Tootoosis, of Poundmaker Cree Nation, resigned from her role in the fall.

Tootoosis, who has a practice in North Battleford, was selected in 2017 to be part of the new health superboard, which replaced the 12 health authorities throughout the province as part of the province’s restructuring plans.

Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill thanked Tootoosis for her dedication and work during her time as a member on the board.

“Dr. Tootoosis is a well-regarded doctor from the Battlefords, and we are grateful for the contributions she has made to the SHA over the last number of years,” Cockrill said in an email to battlefordsNOW.

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The SHA has also seen some top staff leave in recent months. Scott Livingstone resigned from his position as chief executive officer with the SHA in November.

On Livingstone’s resignation, Premier Scott Moe told reporters in a recent media scrum the health authority board will work with Livingstone in relation to his resignation, and have already worked to ensure there is no interruption or disruption to services by appointing an interim CEO.

“I would leave that to the health authority board to work with Mr. Livingstone…,” Moe said. “Ultimately, eventually they will put together a process to hire a permanent CEO.”

NDP Leader Ryan Meili is worried about some of the recent changes.

“It’s very concerning,” Meili said. “We have the CEO of the health authority, the biggest leadership role in the healthcare structure in the health system, walking away in the middle of the pandemic.”

He said the SHA has seen a number of positions changing, including Tootoosis leaving her position on the SHA Board.

“I’m very concerned about what that signals for how this government is treating healthcare in Saskatchewan,” Meili said.

He took the opportunity to commend Tootoosis for her many contributions. Originally from Poundmaker, Tootoosis attended school in Cut Knife, and medical school in Saskatoon.

“This is a leader,” Meili said. “This is somebody who has offered amazing service to North Battleford and the area, but also the entire province.”

He added to have Tootoosis leave her role on the board saddens him.

“Seeing someone like that, so discouraged by the direction of the SHA that she needs to walk away, that really upsets me,” Meili said. “I certainly wish Dr. Tootoosis the best. But I would also like some answers as to what has gone so wrong at the SHA that someone of that caliber doesn’t feel they can positively continue with that organization.”

Tootoosis could not be immediately reached for comment when contacted by battlefordsNOW.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow