CHRIS LOWREY
PONTIAC Feb. 20, 2019
The CEO of the Centre intégré de Santé et Services Sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO), Jean Hébert, has been fired by Quebec’s Minister of Health, Danielle McCann.
Hébert got his marching papers on Feb. 20 after the minister was presented with a report that chronicled the issues that have been facing CISSSO and drawn the ire of Pontiac residents.
He had been in the position since the creation of CISSSO in June 2015.
CISSSO has come under fire in recent years in the Pontiac for several cutbacks to the region’s healthcare network. One of the most polarizing decisions was to implement paid parking at the Shawville Hospital.
Residents quickly mobilized and formed a Facebook group called Pontiac Voice. With over 2,500 members, the social media page regularly directed anger at both former Health Minister Gaetan Barette and Hébert.
In fact, Pontiac Voice representatives called for Hebert’s resignation in December of 2018. They joined others like the Warden of the MRC Gatineau Valley, Chantal Lamarche, who also called for a change at the top of CISSSO.
Many of the complaints directed at CISSSO from this region centre around excessive centralization in urban areas at the expense of rural ones.
McCann responded by appointing Sylvain Gagnon as a special representative tasked with compiling a report for the minister.
Pontiac Voice issued a statement applauding “the quick actions taken by Minister McCann.”
The statement went on to say that the group is hopeful that the residents of the Pontiac will get the level of care they were accustomed to before the cutbacks.
“We used to have the best organization,” the statement said. “Decisions were made locally, by management who listened to the residents and employees.”
In the meantime, CISSSO’s former assistant CEO, Josée Filion, will take on Hébert’s duties.
Filion has served as CISSSO’s Assistant CEO since December.
