Fired B.C. government employee says he's relieved his name has been cleared

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VICTORIA – The B.C. government has settled a claim with a former Health Ministry employee, saying its decision to fire him was a regrettable mistake.

Ron Mattson filed a lawsuit in December 2012 against then health minister Margaret MacDiarmid and the province, alleging wrongful dismissal, wrongful withholding of pay and defamation.

Mattson worked as the project manager for the Alzheimer’s Drug Therapy Initiative since 1984 and was among seven people who were fired as part of an alleged privacy breach of health data.

Mattson says he accepts the government’s statement of regret, its acknowledgment that his dismissal was a mistake and is relieved that his name has been cleared.

He says he will turn 61 on Thursday and is looking forward to spending time with his family and enjoying his retirement.

Health Ministry spokeswoman Kristy Anderson says the government has now settled claims with five of the seven employees but that she couldn’t disclose any details as part of the confidential settlements.

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