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
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members today during a ceremony at British Columbia's legislature cenotaph commemorating the Second World War's Battle of the Atlantic.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
As storms moves across Texas, 1 child dies after being swept away in floodwaters
A child in Texas died Sunday after being swept away in floodwaters as storms swept across the state.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.