Saskatoon care home whistleblower fired

Last week, Bowden was fired for breaking nine SHR and Oliver Lodge policies.

Bowden claims that allegations of workplace misconduct started popping up against him only after he blew the whistle about under staffing at Oliver Lodge care home, where he worked.

Even after that statement and the premier’s comments, Bowden says the words offer little comfort – he feels it was a mistake to come forward.

When asked about Bowden’s case Monday, Wall remained confident there was no wrongdoing by the government or health region. “I brought these allegation forward (and) all the government cared about was seeing me buried”.

The union is seeking advice on whether or not Bowden’s dismissal will be appealed, she said.

Bowden and others have suggested the lengthy investigation was a politically motivated hunt to dig up as much dirt as possible. “The investigator was quite clear that I was out on my own”.

Later that day, details of the allegations against Bowden were voluntarily sent to reporters by the premier’s chief of operations and communications, Kathy Young. Bowden said SEIU-West filed a grievance with the investigation results, but he did not know if the grievance committee will send the matter to arbitration.

Bowden went on to file a complaint with the provincial privacy commissioner because he felt his privacy was violated when the premier’s office shared the personnel details.

The privacy commissioner found that Bowden’s privacy was breached when his personal information was shared by his employer, the health region, and the health ministry.

Florizone said the SHR investigation that led to Bowden’s firing was “one of the most extensive investigations we’ve ever undertaken”.

But a report from the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner, to be released Tuesday morning, could shed some light on a controversial piece of the puzzle.

Kruzeniski wrote in his report that neither the Health Minister’s office nor the Premier’s office qualify as a government institution under freedom of information laws and, as a result, he did not have the jurisdiction to rule on whether or not a member of the premier’s staff was right or wrong in sending information about Bowden’s suspension to the media.

“I have asked myself that question a dozen times”, he said.