B.C. health minister criticizes health authority pay hikes

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s minister of health says the board of directors that oversees one of the province’s six health authorities did not approve wage increase that have been given to management.

While five of the province’s six health authorities serve geographic regions, the sixth is known as the Provincial Health Services Authority.

It runs BC Children’s Hospital, BC Transplant and specialized services like trauma and chest surgery.

Terry Lake says despite a decision by the government last September to freeze wages across the public sector, pay hikes have been given to the health authority’s managers.

He says the board of directors, which is appointed by the government, is now reviewing its legal options to address the issue.

A news release from Lake didn’t indicate who approved the pay raises.

The announcement comes just days after Premier Christy Clark also rescinded pay hikes to top political staff, saying they sent the wrong message to the public and are not in step with a government that wants to control spending.