New Brunswick’s now-health minister was awarded nearly $1.8 million after his wrongful dismissal from Horizon Health.
Dr. John Dornan was fired as president and CEO of the health authority in July 2022, just four months into a five-year contract.
It was part of a massive shakeup by former premier Blaine Higgs following the death of a hospital patient in Fredericton.
Dornan had been awarded just over $2 million by a provincial labour adjudicator — a decision later upheld by the Court of King’s Bench.
The province asked the Court of Appeal to reverse the decision but dropped its appeal last April after the two sides reached a “mutually satisfactory resolution.”
What exactly that resolution was remained a mystery until now. Both sides had to agree to waive a non-disclosure agreement.
“At a pivotal moment in my career, I was abruptly dismissed just four months into a five-year contract. Like any New Brunswicker whose employment is unjustly terminated, I pursued my right to file a claim for unjust dismissal under the Public Service Labour Relations Act,” Dornan said in a statement to our newsroom.
“Following due process, the courts determined that my dismissal was indeed without cause, and I was subsequently awarded a settlement for unjust dismissal.
“As I said during my campaign and now acting as a Minister of the Crown, I am committed to full openness and transparency with the people of New Brunswick regarding the outcome of this case.”
In addition to the settlement, Dornan was also paid $360,000 — the equivalent of one year’s salary — after being dismissed from his role with Horizon Health
