REGINA - The Saskatchewan government says it is taking very seriously the allegations of racism from 10 doctors at Regina General Hospital.
News reports have circulated in recent days that the doctors have filed a human rights complaint against the hospital with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. Now, the issue has made its way to the Legislative Assembly.
Minister of Health Everett Hindley was grilled on the subject Monday afternoon during Question Period by the new NDP MLA for Regina Coronation Park Noor Burki, as recorded in Hansard.
Mr. Burki: — “Mr. Speaker, 10 doctors at Regina General Hospital came forward to say that they have experienced racism, discrimination from the hospital leadership. The doctors are all trained in Africa and east Asia. They filed a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission on Oct. 5th. To the minister: when did he become aware of this issue with the leadership at the Regina General Hospital?” …
Hon. Mr. Hindley: — “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me begin by saying there is absolutely no room for racism in health care, or frankly anywhere in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. We take these concerns very, very seriously.
“As the member opposite has noted, there has been a complaint filed with the Human Rights Commission, Mr. Speaker. I have had discussions with our senior leadership both at the SHA and with the Ministry of Health about this particular concern, Mr. Speaker. And it is also my understanding that the SHA has Launched a third-party review or investigation into what has happened in this particular circumstance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.” …
Mr. Burki: — “Mr. Speaker, imagine foreign health care workers looking up work conditions in this province and finding this story. They can go anywhere. Will they want to come work here? It is that minister’s job to deal with these problems immediately. Instead he let it become a story for the whole world to see. Why did this story have to go to the media before that minister chose to act on it?” …
Hon. Mr. Hindley: — “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my previous answer, there’s absolutely no room for racism here in our health care system or anywhere in Saskatchewan.
Mr. Speaker, we very much value and greatly appreciate… we have health care workers from across the globe coming to Saskatchewan to work here in our province, Mr. Speaker, those that have been in our province for decades upon decades, serving patients and residents right across this province. And they are such valuable health care workers as part of our health care teams, Mr. Speaker.”
In speaking to reporters following the exchange in the House, Burki said he was encouraged by the answer he got from Hindley.
“Today when I asked this question, I was really thankful to the Minister — he said right away abruptly that there is no place for racism in our province, which is great. And we want to make sure that Saskatchewan should be an attractive place for all the working people that are coming, whether they are coming inside Canada, or they’re coming from abroad,” said Burki.
Bukri cited the need for doctors, nurses and skilled people in the province. As for whether a story like this might deter people from coming, Burki said that people are “coming with very high expectations to abroad or anywhere else — they feel they should be comfortable with that.”
“Whatever the allegations are, we should take the allegations seriously so we can make Saskatchewan a welcoming place for everyone.”
