News Release Archive
HEALTH--QE II HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE ACT INTRODUCED ------------------------------------------------------------ An act to provide the framework for the amalgamation of four Halifax hospitals as the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre was introduced in the legislature today by Health Minister Ron Stewart. Although the Victoria General Hospital, Camp Hill Medical Centre, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre and the Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation of Nova Scotia have been governed by a single board for the last year, the hospitals have not yet been formally merged into one. The QEII Act will finalize the merger. "The merger of these four very fine health care institutions into one is an excellent move for Nova Scotia health care," said Dr. Stewart. "All adult tertiary care in the province will be managed, coordinated and delivered through one hospital. This will mean more effective health care and more efficiency of service in keeping with our overall health reform goals." Under the act, employees of the four separate institutions become employees of a single employer -- the QEII. All employees covered by collective agreements will continue to enjoy the terms and conditions of those agreements. Pension benefits are also protected. The act replaces the legislation creating the individual facilities and allows for a board of directors to be appointed. Those appointments are expected when the act is proclaimed. "There is an emphasis here on consultation and negotiations," said Human Resources Minister Jay Abbass. "Considerable time and effort was spent to develop legislation that would treat all employees equitably." The QEII becomes Nova Scotia's new flagship health care facility, serving almost 35,000 people annually. It is the largest adult referral centre in Atlantic Canada excelling in cardiac care, burn treatment, transplantation, cancer treatment, physical rehabilitation, ophthalmology, otolaryngology and geriatrics. ------------------------------------------------------------ QUEEN ELIZABETH II HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE ACT SUMMARY ------------------------------------------------------------ This legislation enables four health care institutions --- Camp Hill Medical Centre; Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre; Victoria General Hospital; and the Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation of Nova Scotia --- to complete a merger into one hospital --- the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. The QEII was originally created by an Order-in-Council in September, 1994. This legislation completes the merger. Under the Act, the employees of the four facilities become employees of a single corporation -- the QEII. The Acts of the individual facilities are repealed. BOARD OF DIRECTORS The corporation will be governed by a Board of Directors including a chief executive officer, a medical staff representative and the Dalhousie University Dean of Medicine. Eleven others will be appointed -- eight by Cabinet and three by the QEII Board itself. The new board replaces the current interim Board. PROPERTY All property owned by the four facilities becomes the property of the QEII. LABOUR RELATIONS The QEII becomes the single employer of about 7,000 employees. The QEII is bound by successor rights as determined by the Trade Union Act. The existing collective agreements for the employees at the four separate facilities remain in effect. All those rights, benefits and salaries under collective agreements will be carried over to the new employer. The legislation establishes a process to recognize seniority. Benefits accrued over the years are protected. They become the responsibility of the new employer. VICTORIA GENERAL HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES Many Victoria General Hospital employees are civil servants, that is, employees of the Province. This Act declares them employees of the QEII. VG employees are given the option of staying with the provincial employees' pension plan or of transferring to a pension plan administered by the QEII. Retired or former VG employees will continue to receive public service pension benefits as will beneficiaries. ------------------------------------------------------------ -30- Contact: Chris Hansen 902-424-5925 trp Nov. 23, 1995