Memo from Sudbury hospital board praises embattled CEO Dominic Giroux
Following the release of the full auditor general’s report on Laurentian University’s insolvency, the board of directors at Health Sciences North is praising the work of CEO Dominic Giroux.
Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk singled out Giroux’s time as head of Laurentian as the period when the school’s fiscal problems began to get serious.
Massive spending on several capital projects added to LU’s growing debt load, which became a crisis when revenue from international students dried up during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Giroux has refused to comment on the auditor’s analysis after a request from CTV Northern Ontario.
But in a memo to HSN staff Nov. 22 obtained by CTV News, board chair Daniel Giroux, vice-chair Dr. Catherine Cervin and treasurer Stephan Plante said Giroux has been an outstanding CEO since taking over five years ago.
“Since Dominic joined HSN and HSNRI in 2017-18, our cash position, working capital, net assets and long-term debt improved in both organizations,” the memo said.
When he arrived, HSN was incurring operating deficits of about $1 million a month, the memo said. Since then, the hospital has posted operating surpluses each year, ranging from $300,000 to $2.9 million.
“As well, today HSN performs at or above the average of Ontario hospitals on 13 of 19 indicators tracked by the Canadian Institute for Health Information,” the memo continued.
“It is recognized by Ontario Health as No. 1 on quality improvement indicators among Ontario’s 14 regional cancer programs.”
“We are fully confident in the job Dominic has done as CEO – a job that was recently validated by being chosen by his peers to be the Chair of the Ontario Hospital Association at a time of great challenge in Ontario’s health care sector.”
And in an email to CTV, Daniel Giroux said the board “has full confidence in the leadership of its president and CEO.”
“With the support of many, Dominic has done an excellent job co-chairing the pandemic response for the health sector in northern Ontario,” Giroux said.
“Since he took the helm back in 2017, HSN secured a favourable third-party validation of its approved 2018 budget, operating funding for 198 hospital beds in Greater Sudbury, final approvals for the PET-CT, provincial approval for a second MRI, a Stage 1 planning grant for our capital redevelopment, $21.6 million from the province for the Labelle Innovation and Learning Centre, $3.4 million to relocate the Children’s Treatment Centre to Southridge Mall and $10 million for renovations to open 52 new beds by 2023.”
Giroux finished by saying, “Therefore, the board is extremely confident in the job Dominic has done as CEO.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.