Where is Leona Aglukkaq? Do you know who Leona Aglukkaq is? Perhaps you are more familiar with Steve Outhouse?
He’s the spokesperson every time the Federal government is called upon to respond to a rather embarrassing issue related to Canada’s health care. In fact, he is Leona Aglukkaq’s Director of Communications. Aglukkaq is technically Canada’s Minister of Health. At least that’s who Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed to the role.
It’s almost like the Harper government is afraid to let the real health minister out in public.
The non-elected Outhouse was the face of the Federal government when Swiss pharmaceutical manufacturer Sandoz abruptly reduced production in Boucherville Quebec and left Canadian hospitals scrambling for intravenous drugs.
Outhouse was again the spokesperson when Sandoz had to recall 57,000 vials of injectable morphine after a heart drug was found to have been mistakenly packaged with the painkiller. That mistake was found by a hospital, not Health Canada. Whoops.
When Dr. Yoni Freedhoff complained publicly about her invisibility in the role, calling her one of Canada’s worst health ministers, the National Post reported “through her staff, Ms Aglukkaq calls the allegation of invisibility unfounded.” Did the reporter really type that with a straight face?
OPSEU Diablogue 