REGINA – The health care aide at the centre of an alleged privacy breach says the premier’s office knows more about his personnel file than he does.
Peter Bowden is on suspension with pay from his job at Oliver Lodge, a long term care home in Saskatoon, pending an investigation into complaints from Bowden’s co-workers.
On April 20, Premier Brad Wall’s office e-mailed reporters details about Bowden’s suspension – which came just a few weeks after he went public with concerns about conditions at the seniors home.
“I would discourage anyone who’s going to whistleblow.”
“It’s terrifying,” Bowden said. He believes his discipline resulted from his whistleblowing efforts. “It seems like the government is out to stop me from working in the health care field.”
Bowden has filed a complaint with Saskatchewan’s privacy commissioner.
Government involvement
Wall says the leak was “in the public interest” – insisting his office only inquired about Bowden’s personnel file to ensure he wasn’t facing discipline for coming forward about concerns with the health system.
Health Minister Dustin Duncan stressed that point again Tuesday, saying the government wanted to avoid a battle of he-said, she-said.
“We can’t control what else may be happening in the workplace with respect to this individual employee.”
The issue was raised again during question period. Deputy NDP leader Trent Wotherspoon said digging into employee files goes far beyond the government’s business.
“The premier and this government are talking about both sides of their mouth,” Wotherspoon said. “They’re not speaking to the breach of privacy, the leak of information.”
‘I wouldn’t do it again’
Bowden says new documents provided to him by the Saskatoon Health Region show there were ten complaints against him – not eight, as originally thought.
But the timelines still don’t add up. Bowden says nine complaints are dated after his March 30 visit to the legislature; three of them are dated April 20 – the same day the premier’s office first alerted reporters about a suspension.
READ MORE: Sask. government accused of breaking access to info laws
If he could do it all over again, Bowden says he would keep his concerns about seniors care quiet.
“I would discourage anyone who’s going to whistleblow. ‘Forget it. Don’t risk it. They’re going to nail you to the wall.’ ”
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