No new contract for Alberta’s top doc, Dr. James Talbot to step down

WATCH: Heather Yourex has your daily health headlines for June 19.

CALGARY – After three years on the job, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is stepping down. In a statement, Dr. James Talbot says the deputy minister of health has informed him that his contract would not be renewed.

“I have happily served the province of Alberta for six years, first as a Deputy Medical Officer of Health and the last three years as its Chief Medical Officer of Health,” he wrote in a statement. “Whether it was in Edmonton or Calgary, Okotoks, High River or Fort Chipewyan, Medicine Hat, Morinville or Three Creek. Whether it was fire, flood or pandemic—I have always been impressed by Albertans honesty, their courage and their compassion. It has been a privilege and an honour to be your Chief Medical Officer of Health.”

In a statement issued late Friday, Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman thanked Talbot for his service.

“During his time with the province, he repeatedly demonstrated his passion and expertise on issues ranging from wellness to influenza to public awareness for vaccine safety,” she wrote.

Alberta Health has not given a reason for Talbot’s departure, but Hoffman said the structure of Alberta’s public health system is under review.

“As this contract comes to a close, we have an opportunity to look at our public health system and ensure it is structured in a way that best serves Albertans.”

Talbot was appointed by the Progressive Conservative government in 2012. In June 2013, Talbot was put in charge of the province’s public health response following the southern Alberta floods. Under his watch, the province experienced two major outbreaks of measles. Over 40 people became ill during an outbreak in the south zone in 2013; and in 2014, outbreaks were declared in the Calgary, Central and Edmonton zone, during which 29 people became ill.

Talbot was also instrumental in the province’s decision to dramatically increase its supply of flu vaccine in 2014, ordering more than 2 million doses up from 1.3 million the previous year.  The vaccine was later found to be ineffective against a new strain of H3N2. For the first time in nearly two decades, the province recorded more than 100 flu-related deaths.

Talbot was also involved in the response to North America’s first death from H5N1 avian flu, involving an Alberta woman who had just returned from China. At the height of the global Ebola outbreak, Talbot spoke out against unnecessarily subjecting health workers to quarantine following work in Ebola-stricken areas.

Read Talbot’s full statement on the end of his service below:

When the Deputy Minister of Health informed me that my contract as the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the province of Alberta was not going to be renewed, she made a commitment to me that I would be able to make and circulate a final statement. That has not occurred. In it’s absence I am forwarding the following statement. I will not be commenting further on this matter until after my contract ends, June 30, 2015.

I have happily served the province of Alberta for six years, first as a Deputy Medical Officer of Health and the last three years as its Chief Medical Officer of Health. In that time I have done my absolute best to uphold my unique responsibilities as the Chief— to protect and promote the health of the public and prevent disease and injury. 

 In doing this important work, I have been fortunate to be supported by a team of public health professionals in the Ministry of Health and Alberta Health Services who are exceptional people doing excellent work in the service of their fellow Albertans. This province is lucky to have them.

 In my time, I have also had the opportunity to work with ordinary Albertans in good times and bad, in times of crisis and of challenge. Whether it was in Edmonton or Calgary, Okotoks, High River or Fort Chipewyan, Medicine Hat, Morinville or Three Creeks — whether it was fire, flood or pandemic—I have always been impressed by Albertans honesty, their courage and their compassion. It has been a privilege and an honour to be your Chief Medical Officer of Health.

 If I can leave you with one thought, it is to remind you that real health and wellness is created by the things we do with and for one another. Be kind to one another. Finally in the deepest sense of these words, it is my greatest hope that you, your families and neighbours — fare well. 

Read the full statement from Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman:

“I want to thank Dr. Talbot for his service and dedication to public health in our province that was evident the moment he became our Chief Medical Officer of Health. During his time with the province, he repeatedly demonstrated his passion and expertise on issues ranging from wellness to influenza to public awareness of vaccine safety. As this contract comes to a close, we have an opportunity to look at our public health system and ensure it is structured in a way that best serves Albertans.”