Son of man who died waiting for care at Fredericton ER speaks of heartache, frustrations
After inquest, Ryan Mesheau describes seeing security video of his father Darrell's last moments as 'awful'
For nearly two years, Ryan Mesheau has known the details surrounding the death of his 78-year-old father Darrell while he waited for care at the Fredericton hospital's emergency department.
But at the coroner's inquest Tuesday, Mesheau saw for the first time security video of his father's last moments, as he sat alone, slumped and motionless in a wheelchair, before a licensed practical nurse discovered he was unresponsive around 4:30 a.m. on July 12, 2022.
"That was awful," Mesheau told reporters.
Deputy chief coroner Emily Caissy had warned the video might be upsetting to some people and gave them an opportunity to leave.
Mesheau and other relatives remained steadfast in the front row, but were visibly distressed as they watched the last half-hour of their loved one's seven-hour wait for treatment at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, when other patients sat mere feet away and at least one nurse walked by.
At one point, one family member shook her head, as if in disbelief.
Later, two others glanced at one another, looking perplexed.
"Every medical professional seemed to fail my father the night of his death," Mesheau said.
The night of July 11, 2022, "he was dropped off by ambulance at the DEC ER at 9:30 … left alone in a wheelchair for seven hours in the middle of the floor, and died perhaps 40 minutes before anyone noticed."
If his father had been checked on sooner, Mesheau "absolutely" believes he would still be alive.
Was triaged as Level 3, urgent
The two-day inquest heard that Darrell Mesheau called 911 at 8:56 p.m. and told the paramedic he felt weak and short of breath on exertion. He arrived at the Chalmers ER by ambulance at 9:33 p.m.
At 10:44 p.m., registered nurse Danielle Othen noted he looked pale. She triaged him as being Level 3, based on the Canadian Emergency Department Triage and Acuity Scale, which ranges from Level 1, the most serious, requiring immediate, aggressive intervention, to Level 5.
Level 3 is considered urgent. The national guidelines call for these patients to be seen by a doctor within 30 minutes and reassessed by a nurse every hour.
Othen did not note any of Mesheu's medical history, which included a heart attack and quadruple bypass, diabetes, and high blood pressure. She could not recall if she asked him and said she had no way to access his medical history from the triage area, but agreed with Crown prosecutor Chris Titus such information could be helpful in making an assessment.
A pathologist subsequently determined Mesheau died from heart failure, the jury heard.
There was only one nurse triaging patients at the Chalmers ER the day Mesheau died and one ER physician, the inquest heard. (Joe McDonald/CBC)
Othen, who was working alone in triage during her 12-hour shift that night because the ER was short one nurse, was also responsible for checking the vital signs of patients in the waiting room, but couldn't do both, she said. There were 52 patients in the ER between 7 p.m.on July 11 and 5 a.m. on July 12, and 14 of them were Level 2s, or emergent.
"There was a lineup of patients to be triaged," she said.
"And we were short-staffed, meaning we didn't have all of the staff that we should have had to work properly." Even washroom and food breaks "don't exist when you're short," said Othen.
You know, triage Level 3 is supposed to see a doctor in 30 minutes, and he didn't see one until he was dead, seven hours later.
- Ryan Mesheau, son
Licensed practical nurse April Knowles, who was assigned to work on the psychiatric side of the waiting room the day of Mesheau's death but volunteered to help out in the ER, said she checked Mesheau's vitals around 11:15 p.m. before she helped him to the washroom because he complained of feeling weak. His heartbeat, breathing rate, temperature and blood pressure were all within normal limits, she said.
She checked them again at 2:03 a.m. and there was no real change, but she ws concerned because he was so pale, so she bumped his chart ahead of three other patients.
But Mesheau still hadn't been seen by a doctor by around 4:30 a.m., when another licensed nurse practitioner told Knowles "he didn't look so good." That's when she went to take his vitals again and found him unresponsive. By then, he was already cool to the touch, meaning he hadn't had any circulation in "quite a while," ER Dr. Shawn Tiller testified.
Ryan Mesheau thinks the system failed his father from the beginning.
"You know, triage Level 3 is supposed to see a doctor in 30 minutes and he didn't see one until he was dead, seven hours later."
Like 'rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic'
His father's death sparked outrage across the province and prompted a major shakeup of New Brunswick's health-care leadership three days later.
During a news conference, Premier Blaine Higgs announced the firing of Horizon Health Network president and CEO John Dornan, replaced Dorothy Shephard as health minister and removed the boards of both Horizon and Vitalité.
Mesheau described these as "small, insignificant changes," or "window dressing," instead of addressing the "larger, more important issues."
"I guess you can call that rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."
Mesheau, who lives in California, said he doesn't have the answers, but hopes the jury's three recommendations will be implemented, even though they're non-binding, and will help. He and his wife still have family and friends here and they worry about their safety, he said.
"I would just like to see, you know, health-care fixed — someone who would tackle this and take it on instead of riding it out and just ignore it."
"The primary reason for government is the health and safety of the citizens."
Difficult but important process
It's been a long and arduous two years for the family, said Mesheau.
"The time kind of deepens the loss."
But they felt it was important to be part of the inquest process.
"We want to … ensure the public is aware of the details surrounding my father's death, and to make sure it doesn't ever happen again," he said.
His father would have believed in the inquest process too, he said. The former diplomat had lived and travelled all over the world, but loved New Brunswick and was active in the community — everything from theatre to church dinners.
"He was a huge member of this community … and this is just really all about helping New Brunswickers."
The two-day inquest heard that Darrell Mesheau called 911 at 8:56 p.m. and told the paramedic he felt weak and short of breath on exertion. He arrived at the Chalmers ER by ambulance at 9:33 p.m.
At 10:44 p.m., registered nurse Danielle Othen noted he looked pale. She triaged him as being Level 3, based on the Canadian Emergency Department Triage and Acuity Scale, which ranges from Level 1, the most serious, requiring immediate, aggressive intervention, to Level 5.
Level 3 is considered urgent. The national guidelines call for these patients to be seen by a doctor within 30 minutes and reassessed by a nurse every hour.
Othen did not note any of Mesheu's medical history, which included a heart attack and quadruple bypass, diabetes, and high blood pressure. She could not recall if she asked him and said she had no way to access his medical history from the triage area, but agreed with Crown prosecutor Chris Titus such information could be helpful in making an assessment.
A pathologist subsequently determined Mesheau died from heart failure, the jury heard.
Inquest into death of man waiting at Fredericton ER to hear from nurses, pathologist
Coroner and jury to determine facts surrounding death of Darrell Mesheau on July 12, 2022
A coroner's inquest into the death of a patient who was waiting for care at the Fredericton hospital's emergency department nearly two years ago continues today.
Darrell Mesheau, 78, had been in the waiting room of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital ER for about seven hours when he was discovered unresponsive on July 12, 2022 around 4:30 a.m., the inquest heard Monday.
Deputy chief coroner Emily Caissy and the five jurors are expected to hear today from the triage nurse, the nurse manager and the pathologist who conducted the autopsy, Crown prosecutor Patrick Wilbur told reporters.
A portion of the ER security video from Mesheau's wait will also be played, he said.
Members of Mesheau's family, including his son Ryan, are attending the proceedings and said they will offer comments once they've heard more of the evidence.
Mesheau's death sparked outrage across the province and prompted a major shakeup of New Brunswick's health-care leadership.
During a news conference three days later, Premier Blaine Higgs announced the firing of Horizon Health Network president and CEO John Dornan, replaced Dorothy Shephard as health minister and removed the boards of both Horizon and Vitalité.
The presiding coroner and jury of three women and two men are hearing evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding his death.
The jurors will also have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing death under similar circumstances.
The inquest is scheduled to continue through Thursday.
Inquest hears from only doctor in Fredericton ER the night man died waiting for care
Jurors now deliberating about events surrounding death of Darrell Mesheau on July 12, 2022
Darrell Mesheau was already cool to the touch when he was rushed into the Fredericton hospital's emergency department, a coroner's jury heard Tuesday.
That means he hadn't had any circulation in "quite a while," Dr. Shawn Tiller, who was working alone on the overnight shift that day, testified via a prerecorded video.
Mesheau was discovered unresponsive in the waiting room of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital ER by a licensed practical nurse around 4:33 a.m. on July 12, 2022, said Tiller.
He was "flat-lined," with no pulse, he said.
A designated "code blue" team immediately performed several rounds of CRP (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and Tiller administered epinephrine to try to stimulate Mesheau's heart.
He then used an ultrasound to see if he could detect any faint cardiac activity that the monitor might not be picking up.
But "we weren't able to get any cardiac activity at all."
Mesheau, 78, was pronounced dead at 4:44 a.m.
He had arrived at the ER by ambulance the night before, around 9:33 p.m.
His death sparked outrage across the province and prompted a major shakeup of New Brunswick's health-care leadership.
During a news conference three days later, Premier Blaine Higgs announced the firing of Horizon Health Network president and CEO John Dornan, replaced Dorothy Shephard as health minister and removed the boards of both Horizon and Vitalité.
Deputy chief coroner Emily Caissy and a five-member jury heard evidence from 10 witnesses over two days and watched a portion of the ER security video from Mesheau's wait to determine the facts surrounding his death.
The jurors have now begun their deliberations. They will also have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing death under similar circumstances.
On Tuesday, the jury also heard from the triage nurse Danielle Othen, who said she worked a 12-hour shift alone that night because they were short staffed and she was unable to monitor the vital signs of patients in the waiting room whom she had already triaged because she was too busy triaging new patients coming in.
The head of pathologist testified Mesheau's cause of death was deemed to be heart failure.
Horizon Health Network administrative director Susan McCarron told the jury about an internal review that came up with eight recommendations, all of which have been implemented.
Members of Mesheau's family, including his son Ryan, have attended the proceedings and are expected to offer comments to the media later today.
Inquest into death of man in Fredericton ER waiting area ends with 3 recommendations
Darrell Mesheau, 78, died at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital on July 12, 2022
A coroner's inquest into the death of a patient in the waiting area of the Fredericton hospital's emergency department ended Tuesday with three recommendations aimed at improving ER services and preventing deaths under similar circumstances.
Darrell Mesheau, 78, spent about seven hours at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital ER before he was discovered unresponsive by a licensed practical nurse around 4:30 a.m. on July 12, 2022.
After deliberating for about two hours, the jury concluded he died at 4:44 a.m., when he was pronounced dead, as a result of heart failure, and that his death was due to natural causes.
The jury recommended all stakeholders "collaborate and show ownership in the resolution of the bed-blockage issue."
This was a reference to when patients who have been admitted to hospital have to remain in ER beds because there are no other beds available, largely because there are patients waiting in hospital for a long-term care placement, such as a nursing home or special care home.
Seventeen of 29 available ER beds were occupied by admitted patients the day Mesheau died, the inquest heard.
The backlog of Social Development patients awaiting long-term care contributes "significantly to the efficiency of an operating emergency room," the jury said.
Eight recommendations that stemmed from an internal Horizon review following Mesheau's death should also be "fully implemented, funded and staffed," the jurors said.
In addition, staff should be equipped with hand-held electronic devices to record patient vitals.
Mesheau's family was happy with the recommendations, according to his son Ryan Mesheau.
"It may be too late for my dad, but it's not too late for other New Brunswickers," he said.
The recommendations are not binding.
"It's in Horizon Health's hands now, so it's up to them," said Mesheau, who travelled from California to attend the proceedings.
He described himself as an optimistic person, but when asked whether he thinks the changes will be implemented, he replied, "probably not."
The family is "definitely" considering legal action, he added.
Horizon will review each of the recommendations closely, interim president and CEO Margaret Melanson said in an emailed statement.
"The safety and wellbeing of our patient is our foremost priority, and since this tragedy, Horizon has implemented several measures aimed at enhancing access and the delivery of patient care in our emergency departments.
"These measures have included increasing staffing levels to monitor the wellbeing of patients in our waiting rooms, who are regularly checking vital signs, and providing comfort and support to patients while they wait."
In
an emailed statement, Margaret Melanson, interim president and CEO of
Horizon, offered condolences to Mesheau’s family, friends and loved
ones. She also expressed gratitude to the people who took part in the
inquest. (Horizon/Zoom)
The chief coroner will forward the jury's recommendations to the appropriate agencies for consideration and response, said deputy chief coroner Emily Caissy.
The response will be included in the chief coroner's annual report for 2024 — and in any subsequent reports, if necessary, she said.
Mesheau's death sparked outrage across the province and prompted a major shakeup of New Brunswick's health-care leadership three days later.
During a news conference, Premier Blaine Higgs announced the firing of Horizon Health Network president and CEO John Dornan, replaced Dorothy Shephard as health minister and removed the boards of both Horizon and Vitalité.
Inquest hears from ER doctor
The inquest ended two days ahead of schedule. Caissy and the five-member jury heard evidence from 10 witnesses over two days and watched a portion of the ER security video from Mesheau's wait to determine the facts surrounding his death.
ER Dr. Shawn Tiller was among those who testified Tuesday. He was working alone on the overnight shift the day Mesheau died.
Mesheau, who had arrived at the ER by ambulance the night before, around 9:33 p.m., was already cool to the touch when he was discovered unresponsive in the waiting area and rushed into the emergency department shortly after 4:30 a.m., said Tiller.
That means he hadn't had any circulation in "quite a while," Tiller testified via a prerecorded video.
A
month after Mesheau's death, Horizon hired patient service workers to
monitor the vital signs of patients in the emergency department waiting
rooms of five of its biggest hospitals. (Joe McDonald/CBC)
He was "flat-lined," with no pulse, he said.
A designated "code blue" team immediately performed several rounds of CRP (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and Tiller administered epinephrine to try to stimulate Mesheau's heart.
He then used an ultrasound to see if he could detect any faint cardiac activity that the monitor might not be picking up.
But "we weren't able to get any cardiac activity at all."
The head of pathology testified Mesheau's cause of death was subsequently deemed to be heart failure.
The jury also heard from the triage nurse Danielle Othen, who said she worked a 12-hour shift alone that night because they were short staffed and she was unable to monitor the vital signs of patients in the waiting room whom she had already triaged because she was too busy triaging new patients coming in.
Susan McCarron, clinical director of Horizon's emergency departments in the Fredericton region, told the jury about the internal review that resulted in eight recommendations, all of which she confirmed have been "basically approved and completed."
January 30, 2007
WITHOUT PREJUDICE
Mr. David Amos
Dear Mr. Amos:
This will acknowledge receipt of a copy of your e-mail of December 29,
2006 to Corporal Warren McBeath of the RCMP.
Because of the nature of the allegations made in your message, I have
taken the measure of forwarding a copy to Assistant Commissioner Steve
Graham of the RCMP “J” Division in Fredericton.
Sincerely,
Honourable Michael B. Murphy
Minister of Health
CM/cb
'Given his immune system is compromised, his doctors determined that he could not travel commercial'
The Canadian Press · Posted: Jul 17, 2019 5:44 PM ADT
"According to national standards known as the Canadian triage and acuity scale, patients like Mesheau who are triaged as being Level 3, or urgent, should be seen by a doctor within 30 minutes.
Mesheau had been at the hospital since 9:30 the night before, the jury heard. He arrived by ambulance after calling 911.
Primary care paramedic Ashley Guptill said Mesheau told her he'd had a cold for a week and tested negative for COVID-19, but he felt weak all day, short of breath on exertion, and had stomach cramps on and off. He'd also vomited that morning and had diarrhea."
Inquest into Fredericton ER waiting-room death begins with jury selection
3 women and 2 men will hear evidence in death of Darrell Mesheau
A coroner's inquest into the death of a patient in the waiting room of the Fredericton hospital's emergency department got underway Monday with jury selection.
Darrell Mesheau, 78, died on July 12, 2022, at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.
Deputy chief coroner Emily Caissy and the jury of three women and two men will publicly hear evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding his death.
The jurors, selected from among the 74 people summonsed who appeared, will have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances.
In an emailed statement to CBC News last Tuesday, Mesheau's son said the family expects the inquest will "bring to light" the details surrounding his father's death.
"The family is well aware of the deplorable state of the healthcare system in New Brunswick, and we hope that the recommendations forthcoming from the inquest will help drive positive change and ensure that no New Brunswicker will face such a tragedy again," said Ryan Mesheau.
Sparked outrage, prompted changes
The death of Mesheau, a former diplomat, father of two and grandfather of one, sparked outrage across the province and prompted a major shakeup of New Brunswick's health-care leadership.
During a news conference three days later, Premier Blaine Higgs announced the firing of Horizon Health Network president and CEO John Dornan, replaced Dorothy Shephard as health minister and removed the boards of both Horizon and Vitalité.
According to witness John Staples, Mesheau, whom he described as an elderly man, had been waiting alone in a wheelchair, in visible discomfort, for hours when he appeared to fall asleep. It was only during a routine check of people in the waiting room that a hospital employee realized the man had stopped breathing, Staples told CBC News at the time.
Nurses doing double duty
The licensed practical nurses who were assigned to check on patients in the ER waiting room the night Mesheau died were also assigned to other tasks and "could not commit to regular checks," documents obtained by CBC News through a right-to-information request revealed.
The nurse-to-patient ratio the day Mesheau died was "alarmingly high and unquestionably … unsafe," according to local representatives of the New Brunswick Nurses Union.
A quality process review conducted by Horizon found, the "lack of consistent patient monitoring and the inability to meet standards in the emergency department waiting room decreases the likelihood for early recognition in patient health decline," the documents showed.
The coroner's inquest was originally scheduled for last May, but was abruptly postponed when new information was brought forward, prompting an investigation by police.
In December, Fredericton police concluded Mesheau's death did not involve criminality.
The inquest is being held at the Fredericton Inn and is scheduled to continue through Thursday.
Patient who died in Fredericton ER waiting room wasn't checked for more than 2 hours, inquest hears
Coroner and jury to determine facts surrounding death of Darrell Mesheau on July 12, 2022
No medical staff checked Darrell Mesheau's vital signs in the roughly two and a half hours before he died waiting for care at the Fredericton hospital's emergency department, a coroner's inquest heard Monday.
Coroner Peter Kiervin, who investigated Mesheau's death on July 12, 2022, testified he reviewed the security video from the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital ER, and saw no physical interactions with him between 2:03 a.m. and 4:28 a.m.
According to national standards known as the Canadian triage and acuity scale, patients like Mesheau who are triaged as being Level 3, or urgent, should be seen by a doctor within 30 minutes.
Mesheau had been at the hospital since 9:30 the night before, the jury heard. He arrived by ambulance after calling 911.
Primary care paramedic Ashley Guptill said Mesheau told her he'd had a cold for a week and tested negative for COVID-19, but he felt weak all day, short of breath on exertion, and had stomach cramps on and off. He'd also vomited that morning and had diarrhea.
His medical history included a heart attack and quadruple bypass, diabetes, some hypertension and cholesterol issues, but his heartbeat, breathing rate, temperature and blood pressure were all "unremarkable," she said. "There was nothing glaringly obvious" and he was able to walk on his own.
The 78-year-old was later discovered "lifeless," deputy chief coroner Emily Caissy told the jury.
Sparked outrage, prompted changes
Mesheau's death sparked outrage across the province and prompted a major shakeup of New Brunswick's health-care leadership.
During a news conference three days later, Premier Blaine Higgs announced the firing of Horizon Health Network president and CEO John Dornan, replaced Dorothy Shephard as health minister and removed the boards of both Horizon and Vitalité.
The presiding coroner and jury of three women and two men are hearing evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding his death.
The jurors will also have the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing death under similar circumstances.
'We are human,' says licensed practical nurse
On Monday, the inquest heard from six witnesses, including licensed practical nurse April Knowles.
Knowles was assigned to work on the psychiatric side of the waiting room the day of Mesheau's death, but volunteered to help out in the ER because they were short-staffed.
Knowles said Mesheau's vitals were fine when she checked them around 2:03 a.m., but she was concerned he was so pale, so she bumped his chart ahead of three other patients. He would have been the next in line for a bed, she said.
Knowles said she did a visual check on Mesheau from about 15 feet away around 3:46 a.m. and his eyes were open. She couldn't tell whether he was breathing because he was wearing a mask.
Mesheau
arrived at the Chalmers hospital by ambulance shortly after 9:30 p.m.
on July 11, 2022, and was discovered 'lifeless' about seven hours later,
the jury heard. (Joe McDonald/CBC)
When she checked him again, he had a pulse, but it was "very faint" and he was unresponsive. That's when they initiated a "code blue" for respiratory distress.
"It is knowledge that we're supposed to do an hourly check," said Knowles, but stressed she had other patients and other duties, such as administering medicine, and fetching blankets, cold cloths or sandwiches.
"It means we are human, we are one human … doing six or seven jobs," she said, adding that the work can be overwhelming.
17 admitted patients in ER
There were a total of 52 patients between 7 p.m. and July 11 and 5 a.m. July 12, according to then-acting nurse manager Neil Gabriel.
The ER was short-staffed. The overnight crew — already stretched thin — was down by one, leaving only one registered nurse up front to manage the department and handle all triage, he said.
But Gabriel said the main problem was that there were 17 patients in the ER who had been admitted to hospital but were waiting for a bed to become available.
He said that left nowhere to see other patients who were waiting like Mesheau, and the national standard of Level 3 patients being seen within 30 minutes was "completely unrealistic."
Being "bed-blocked" has been a problem for years, said Gabriel, largely due to patients who are waiting in hospital for a long-term care placement.
The coroner, Peter Kiervin, said he spoke to the doctor on duty and a nurse practitioner and neither could provide a "reasonable probable cause of death," so he ordered an autopsy be conducted.
He subsequently recommended to the chief coroner that an inquest would be "in the best interest of the public."
One of the concerns for him was the time that elapsed between Mesheau's arrival at the ER and death, he said.
"What's going on here? Why is he there that long? He hasn't seen the doctor and now he's passed away."
Family expected to comment
Members of Mesheau's family attended Monday's proceedings at the Fredericton Inn but declined to comment until Tuesday, once they've had an opportunity to hear more of the evidence.
In an emailed statement to CBC News last Tuesday, Mesheau's son said the family expects the inquest will shed light on the details surrounding his father's death.
"The family is well aware of the deplorable state of the healthcare system in New Brunswick, and we hope that the recommendations forthcoming from the inquest will help drive positive change and ensure that no New Brunswicker will face such a tragedy again," wrote Ryan Mesheau.
A quality process review conducted by Horizon found the "lack of consistent patient monitoring and the inability to meet standards in the emergency department waiting room decreases the likelihood for early recognition in patient health decline," documents obtained by CBC News through a right-to-information request revealed.
The coroner's inquest was originally scheduled for last May, but was abruptly postponed when new information was brought forward, prompting an investigation by police.
In December, Fredericton police concluded Mesheau's death did not involve criminality.
The inquest resumes Tuesday at 9 a.m. It's scheduled to continue through Thursday.
We pay higher taxes than many Provinces... but always seem to have
less than we pay for.
If we don't have Health Care... nothing else really matters does it?
Or it could be that Mesheau knew important people from his career.
Wednesday 7 August 2019
Dominic LeBlanc makes 1st public appearance in months since non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/dominic-leblanc-irving-lymphoma-1.5215637
Ethics czar erred in approving LeBlanc's use of Irving plane: Democracy Watch
'Given his immune system is compromised, his doctors determined that he could not travel commercial'
The Canadian Press · Posted: Jul 17, 2019 4:44 PM ET
Dominic LeBlanc addresses the media in Saskatoon, Sask., Wednesday, September 12, 2018. (Matt Smith/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
The House of Commons' ethics watchdog should never have approved a flight taken by Liberal cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc on a private aircraft owned by J.D. Irving, says an organization that advocates for greater government accountability.
Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, said ethics commissioner Mario Dion erred in pre-approving LeBlanc's private trip from Moncton to Montreal aboard an Irving plane, to see a doctor for cancer treatment.
"The ethics commissioner acted like an unethical lapdog by approving this unethical gift of a flight," Conacher said.
The flight, first reported by The Globe and Mail, took place on June 13, according to a filing on the ethics commissioner's website.
LeBlanc is being treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and has been on medical leave since April. He needed to attend a hospital in Montreal and was told by his doctors he could not travel commercially, according to a spokesperson in his office.
He travelled from Moncton to Montreal on a "non-commercial chartered or private aircraft" owned by J.D. Irving Ltd. — a company headed by a personal friend of LeBlanc's who owns and is affiliated with companies involved in shipbuilding, oil, forestry and agriculture.
"Given his immune system is compromised, his doctors determined that he could not travel commercial," said Mikaela Harrison, a communications assistant in LeBlanc's office.
"All travel was pre-approved by the commissioner."
A statement provided by Dion's office says he "considered the facts that were presented to him and granted his approval under Section 12 of the (Conflict of Interest Act) related to travel," adding that the sparse details provided in the public filing are all that Dion is permitted to say on the matter.
Influence over the minister
That section of the law says that ministers and others cannot accept free non-commercial flights except in exceptional circumstances — generally considered to be emergencies in remote locations — or with the commissioner's approval. It doesn't spell out what should lead the commissioner to approve or forbid a flight and Dion would not elaborate.
Conacher said LeBlanc should have instead chartered a private plane and paid for it himself, rather than accept a gift from the owner of a company that regularly lobbies the federal government.
He pointed to four charter airline companies that can be hired for private flights within eastern Canada, one of which indicates online that it operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be in the air within 40 minutes.
"The general rule is, you can't accept any gift that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you, and a gift of a free flight from a company that lobbies the federal government — anyone would reasonably see that as a gift that could have influence over the minister," Conacher said.
'No exceptional circumstance'
LeBlanc did establish a conflict of interest screen with the ethics commissioner's office after he was appointed to cabinet in 2015 that bars him from taking part in decisions that directly affect James D. Irving and his companies.
But Conacher said this conflict screen doesn't make the Irving flight OK, it makes the situation worse.
"He's supposed to stay away from anything to do with Irving, so this just compounds it."
Conacher also raised concern about the lack of transparency involved in Dion's decision. He believes all rulings and decisions of the conflict of interest commissioner should be made public, as is the case for ethics complaints that are investigated by Dion's office — they lead to reports that lay out facts and Dion's reasoning in sustaining or rejecting the complaints.
"There's no exceptional circumstance here and you're not required to take this flight from the Irvings," Conacher said. "Do like anyone else would have to do anywhere else in the country — if they didn't want to drive themselves, charter a plane."
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
The problem is his exposure to infectious diseases. Trains would be worse than commercial flights.
It’s great that he appears to be beating cancer but you can not actually believe it’s fair to those that had to see him stepping to the front of the line.
The complaint is from an organization that leans left, some where between NDP and Liberals.
The problem with the issue is that if you and your loved ones get to go tothe front of the line you are not going to do anything for those stuck at the end of the line.
Wrong....someone who is open and transparent will seek ethical approval...because the lack of understanding that is overwhelmingly obvious in these posts.
how much time has he spent in Ottawa working for us while getting paid full time!!! should have stepped back from his post while ill... but $$$$$ for nothing and flights for free!!!!
Most employees have sick days...especially govt employees. Do you not know this???
the difference is that in this case Canadians did not pay for the travel!!! big difference with McKay where we all paid!!!
The rules are always different for the privileged.
I wish Mr. Le Blanc good health and a successful recovery, however, there is no denying the obvious.
Yes he could have....too bad NB does not have the same standard of care as elsewhere in Canada so that he could have driven and parked. That is the injustice!
This guy is an embarrassment, I'm sorry he has cancer. It's a conflict of interest, don't try and point it any other way.
Please explain the conflict of interest and how taxpayer money was misappropriated??
If you don't see the obvious,you're the real problem
Quoting Mike Murphy is never a good starting point!! kind of like quoting Donald Trump!
Within YouTube can be found a quote of a letter to me from Mikey Murphy when he was the Minister of Health for NB in 2007 N'esy Pas?
January 30, 2007
WITHOUT PREJUDICE
Mr. David Amos
Dear Mr. Amos:
This will acknowledge receipt of a copy of your e-mail of December 29, 2006 to Corporal Warren McBeath of the RCMP. Because of the nature of the allegations made in your message, I have taken the measure of forwarding a copy to Assistant Commissioner Steve Graham of the RCMP °J" Division in Fredericton.
Sincerely,
Honourable Michael B. Murphy
Minister of Health
CM/cb
Maybe you don't have cancer? or maybe your community does a fundraiser? or maybe you live in Mtl or Toronto? or maybe ....
What benefit? getting medical treatment? all Canadian get this especially if you live in have provinces and not NB.
I think Mikey thinks he is Jim Irving
Conflict? he has removed himself from all decision with Irvings because they are friends then your friends cannot help you when you have a life-threatening disease??? Altruism can only take you so far!
When you have cancer and need treatment for it, let us all know how straight your mind is and how clear your thoughts are.
he is not making decision on Irving files because they are friends it is cleared by ethics then the guy has major health issues and his friends cannot help him? and he declared it with ethics. you would prefer a lose-lose scenario??? Maybe all elected officials should take an oath to disavow all friends??? really? no wonder we are in this mess.
The same thing would have happened if he was a Conservative. An oil executive would have given him a free flight on a private plane. This is not a partisan issue.
And a Con hack is a con hack is a con hack...
Waiting for you to need help some day.
for cancer...how sick can you be?
Similar to yours?
No need for a plane....you are on your own stratosphere
Why not ask them yourself??
Irving does sponsor a program called
'fuel the care' for families travelling to
the IWK in Halifax for their children.
Chalk this one up as the adult version !!!
mike kennedy
Democracy watch is a lobby group!....wake up!
Have you ever follow their messaging? You would not ask the question. Hint....they support the CPC.
Or when a CPC hack takes advantage of someone's health to try and create a scandal out of nothing!!!
Mikey have you had a family member with cancer? you would have appreciated that some hack stranger tries to gain political advantage over their dire situation??? I think any decent human would agree that this would be a disgusting cheap shot. if you don't agree then please let me know the next time you have a family member with cancer...so I can deliver an equal dose of medicine.
It is not your money!!!!! get over it.
Have you looked up the word "recuse"??? the irvings get contracts from all govts...especially PCs in NB. They are a major company and conduct their business with whoever is in office. I actually think it is better for us poor taxpayers when these relationships are disclosed up front like Leblanc did and avoid being part of the process. you would prefer when your buddies in the CPC take gifts without declaring it????
Name one contract that was awarded to Irvings that Leblance was the decision maker?? This is not Higgs in NB.
the problem with your logic is that they were friends before and he has recused himself for all files involved himself from these cases...do you know what recuse means???
As you stated yesterday...since you are still in school you still have some homework to do.
You mean what PC in NB have listed as their platform policy??
Another week another liberal ethics violation
Leblanc is surely benefitting from this "gift" . How about you trade places with him???
If these Canadians are within a couple of hours drive from Mtl, Qc, Toronto, Halifax, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Hamilton, etc....then they do not need to travel 1200 kms to get treatment. IF you are in NB then you are screwed. The first case of this cancer in NB Only if you have a super rare cancer do you have that incredible privilege. How about you trade places with him or donate your bone marrow??
yes nice transaction...I save your life old friend and you will grant all my wishes...if you survive!!! How twisted to see something sinister when someone's life is in the balance!
So are many people like athletes, law enforcement, military personnel. So what is your point?
" Apparently retired politicians are more equal than regular Canadians."
Bernie, do you have a problem in comprehending the following statement?
"LeBlanc's office says the minister, who has been on medical leave since April, needed to attend a hospital in Montreal and was told by his doctors he could not travel commercially because he has a compromised immune system."
EVERYONE who goes through chemotherapy have a compromised immune system.
Not all have an aggressive disease that requires a bone marrow transplant not available in NB that requires either a 12 hour drive or a commercial flight with all the infectious bugs for someone going through toxic chemotherapy. Not much empathy on this garbage site.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right
Yeah! There must be an underground network where dying politicians are flown for medical treatment every day.
Slow news day when we create a scandal for a politician who has a life threatening cancer and needs to leave him home province for treatment elsewhere in Canada. Maybe the scandal should be why there is no bone marrow transplant in NB so he could drive or walk to his treatment?????
the fact that this is a story is BS. Trade places and we will attack you!
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