MD-turned-MLA alleges political interference in effort to provide emergency department coverage

A Nova Scotia opposition MLA who is also a doctor is concerned that delays he faced getting privileges to cover vacant shifts at the Yarmouth emergency department were the result of political interference.Government officials, however, say they were just doing due diligence in the face of an unusual situation.Rod Wilson, elected as a New Democrat in 2024 to represent Halifax Armdale, has practised medicine in the province since 1997. Since 2022, he’s focused on locums, travelling to underserved communities such as Canso to fill vacant emergency shifts or give local doctors the ability to take breaks.Even after his election win, Wilson wanted to help within the health-care system when and where he could. The need in Canso remained, he said, and he was aware from colleagues in Yarmouth that the emergency department there also needed help.MLA duties take priorityHaving renewed his licence to practise, Wilson applied in January for privileges to work in the health authority’s western zone, which includes Yarmouth Regional Hospital. He received an email toward the end of the month that said his application was still being considered.Soon after, Province House resumed sitting and Wilson parked any thought of picking up shifts in favour of his duties as an MLA, which he said take priority.“I schedule the emerg shifts around the time when I’m not booked to do anything in the riding,” he said in a recent interview.“For example, this summer I didn’t book anything since June because we had something every Saturday.”Deputy health minister weighs inIn early March, after the Province House sitting wrapped up, Wilson returned to his application for privileges, following up to find out what was taking so long.On March 10, the deputy health minister, Dana McKenzie, wrote to Wilson that as an MLA he was prohibited from receiving public funds within the public health-care system because of a section in the House of Assembly Act. That same day he got a letter from the health authority reaffirming the view that he was not allowed to work as a doctor while sitting as an MLA.Wilson said he could not understand why it took so long to get a response to his application and why it was coming from the deputy minister.“I was completely surprised.”Knowing there was precedent for practising health-care workers — including doctors — sitting in the House, Wilson went to the Canadian Medical Protective Association for help and a lawyer started working on his behalf.’Threatening tone’Lawyers for both the Health Department and Wilson went back and forth attempting to resolve the issue, with Wilson’s lawyer noting exemptions in the House of Assembly Act that he argued would seem to apply to doctors.On March 30, the Health Department lawyer said they would leave it to MLAs to determine whether the exemption applied, but warned they might not view things the same way Wilson and his lawyer did.“Members of the House may not agree with you that physicians are in the service or employment of the province,” Angus Gibbon wrote.“A physician’s work is for the benefit of the Nova Scotia residents who from time to time may be their patients. In my view this is quite different than employment or service of the province as those terms appear in [the exemption].”Wilson said the letter felt like a threat that if he pursued the ability to practise medicine, MLAs in the legislature could vote to disqualify him from his seat.“The threatening tone of that letter just motivated me more to fight back,” he said.An appeal to the premierOn April 2, Wilson’s lawyer wrote directly to Premier Tim Houston.Wilson said he figured a premier focused on fixing the health-care system would want to intervene. He offered to waive being paid if that was the issue standing in the way of being granted privileges to cover shifts in Yarmouth during the upcoming Easter long weekend.“Our expectation was that the premier would want to get these emergency [shift] spots filled and … get a resolution,” he said.Neither Wilson nor his lawyer got a reply from Houston, but documents the NDP obtained through an access to information request show the issue was on the radar of another senior official.Emails show that the deputy minister made Nicole LaFosse Parker, the premier’s chief of staff and personal lawyer, aware of the situation in March, before Wilson’s lawyer made the direct appeal to Houston for help.Concerns about potential conflicts of interestThe documents show LaFosse Parker would later share details about the file with communications staff for the premier’s office and the Progressive Conservative caucus, although those details are redacted.A statement from the premier’s office said they are “always supportive of more doctors, and our primary focus is always that Nova Scotians have access to care from committed health-care professionals.”Houston’s press secretary, Catherine Klimek, said the request was brought to their attention ”because it was an unusual situation, and the Department of Health was concerned about potential conflicts.”“Once it was determined no conflicts existed, he received his privileges,” Klimek said in the statement.Commissioner already ruledA statement from the Health Department also pointed to concerns about a potential conflict.“In general an application by a sitting MLA to receive public funds in their private capacity raises significant public policy issues and would require analysis of multiple pieces of legislation,” spokesperson Dan Harrison said in the statement.“We wanted to ensure it would not raise conflict of interest issues when the MLA debated or voted on any legislation tabled in the legislature. The Nova Scotia Health Authority would be expected to consult with the Department of Health and Wellness in an unusual case such as that.”But Wilson had already considered the question of conflict and requested a ruling from the province’s conflict of interest commissioner months before.“No, there is not a conflict of interest created by his continued professional services,” Joseph Kennedy wrote in a Jan. 20 letter to Wilson that was shared with CBC News.Benefits of personal experienceKennedy went on to write that Wilson should recuse himself from debate in the House related to financial benefits for doctors.”Otherwise, health issues are his expertise and participation is positive — there is no need to recuse in these matters. He will be speaking to what he sees as a benefit to the people of Nova Scotia.”The province is in great need for the services that Dr. Wilson wishes to continue to provide.”During the back and forth between Wilson’s lawyer and government officials, it was also pointed out the Health Services and Insurance Act includes a section that says a person receiving payment via insured hospital services cannot be made ineligible as a member of the House of Assembly.Wilson, who was granted privileges in time to work the Easter weekend in Yarmouth, said he’ll continue to pick up shifts when it can help and does not conflict with his MLA duties.But he remains concerned about the lengths he had to go in order to provide that help.“I get asked every month if I can do a locum, from Neils Harbour to Yarmouth, yet there appears to have been a political effort to block a physician from actually providing emergency coverage,” said Wilson.“I think that’s appalling.”MORE TOP STORIES