Dr Janice Owen was about to investigate the health impacts from wind turbine noise, under the responsibilities she has with the Health Protection Act. Now the mayor says, “we have parted ways”
Dr Janice Owens: taking health protection seriously
London Free Press, April 15, 2016
John Miner
Huron County and its acting Medical Officer of Health have “parted ways,” the latest in a string of abrupt departures of senior officials from the county’s health unit.
Bluewater Mayor Tyler Hessel, chair of the Huron County Board of Health, confirmed Friday that Dr. Janice Owen was no longer in the position.
Owen was appointed a year ago.
In 2013, then Medical Officer of Health Dr. Nancy Cameron was dismissed by the board.
In 2008, the county fired the executive director of the health unit for ‘philosophical differences.’
Hessel declined to discuss reasons for Owen’s departure.
“We just parted ways, that’s all I can say,” Hessel said.
“Huron County Board of Health and Dr. Owen have now parted ways, but everything is going to continue moving forward as usual,” he said.
Owen could not be immediately reached for comment.
One of the health unit’s initiatives since her appointment has been a study of the possible health effects of wind farms in Huron County, which has some of the largest turbine installations in the province.
Hessel said Owen’s departure was unrelated to the wind farm issue and that work would be carried on by health unit staff.
Read the full story here.
5 Comments
Karen Breitbach
Three medical officers of Health in 8 years? Seems like a problem there needing some investigation. Mayor Tyler Hessel is also on the Board of Health? Any conflicts there? Not much to go on from the News Article. A good one for an investigative journalist to do some digging……….
Little ol' me
…threatened or paid off?
Patti Kellar
It is an ‘mutually agreed administrative leave’ meaning get out or else?
Little ol' me
An elaboration is needed.
Is this a “phase 1” of an elimination process?
Why?
Conditions)
…or what…drag her through the mud like what happened to Dr. Sarah Laurie?
Let me guess, she was given a gag order with the dismissal. Was she given a new assignment to keep her happy?
I hope Dr. Owen takes a stand to protect herself, bring disclosure to this crime, justice, and a healthy environment so the people of rural Ontario can be healthy and live in their homes.