WRHA chair stepping down after facing heat for travelling to Arizona

The Premier says if Manitoba government Order-in-Council appointees decide to travel for leisure they will be terminated.

Wayne McWhirter, Board Chair of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is facing heat after travelling to Arizona for pleasure. Manitoba Liberal Party Leader Dougald Lamont and NDP health critic MLA Uzoma Asagwara both called for accountability.

"The audacity you must posses to mandate nurses and healthcare workers to work extra shifts, ask them to give up their Christmas vacations and then you go vacation in Arizona. Apparently, the rules don’t apply to PC MLAs, staff and political appointees," Asagwara tweeted on Wednesday.

On Monday evening, Premier Brian Pallister announced McWhirter is stepping down after discussions with Pallsiter'ss office.

"Due to concerns about COVID-19 variants now emerging and in order to provide additional clarity regarding public health orders, all Manitoba government Order-in-Council appointees, including those serving on agencies, boards, and commissions, may not travel for leisure purposes outside permitted travel areas, effective immediately," Pallister says in a statement. "Should they do so, their appointment will be terminated.

Previously other Manitoban leaders have travelled out of the province, including MLA James Teitsma who took a road trip across several provinces and recently has one of his appointments to a legislature committee revoked.

Dr. Brent Roussin has been calling for Manitobans to stay in the province unless necessary. Those who do travel must self-isolate for 14 days upon their return, aside from essential workers and a few other exemptions.