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

Kenney rejects call to fire health minister over failed doctors contract

Mar 31, 2021 | 3:18 PM

EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is rejecting Opposition calls to fire his health minister following a failed wage deal with doctors.

Kenney says Tyler Shandro has his full support.

Kenney 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.

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.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2021.

The Canadian Press