Money Makes the World Go Round

Hello readers. This is Justin of GBHN here. I apologize for the lack of posting on the GHBN blog. We here at GHBN have been to our necks with work, and its only getting busier with the changes that the Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) sees in ours, and the other Regional Innovation Network (RIN), mandates.

We see promise in these changes, and a way for us to become a better contributor to the region's entrepreneurs and SMEs. But, of course, this will cost money, and with times like these, it seems money is the 'make or break' or most government organizations. Well it's the make or break of ANY organization.

Now, enter eHealth Ontario. Recent news has covered the agonizingly shameful scandal of eHealth Ontario President and CEO Sarah Kramer.

A few article links for you:
National Post
CBC News
Toronto Sun

If you're like me, it's near impossible to swallow news like this. In a time of financial struggle and a need for true leaders, we are given the corrupt and greedy to take the spots of power. We simply cannot afford this right now. When the time comes for a true need for eHealth, what are we going to be left with?

Here are some quotes from those articles above. I've left out some financial allegations made in the articles, but I suggest you give them a glance, especially the ones in the Toronto Sun...it hurt my wallet to read it:

"...Other provinces are ahead of Ontario in producing records although so far they have spent less money..." - Toronto Sun

"...The contracts engaged by eHealth Ontario have been under increasing scrutiny..." - CBC News

This is an excerpt of an individual on the CBC News comment forum hit me pretty hard:

"...I spent the entire day today meeting with teenagers that are pregnant who can not afford to eat, administering to them $10.00 food vouchers through a government assisted program that simply can not afford to provide more due to the lack of budget and here we have Sarah Kramer taking a $114,000. Bonus after simply being on the job for a short while..."

FYI: eHealth Ontario Salary Sheet - See it Here

Ok. So time to play devils advocate again. I'm sure eHealth does have a lot of hardworkers trying to establish Electronic Health Records (EHR) in Ontario, but when your CEO is caught shelling out YOUR money as a tax payer, there is a massive loss of confidence in your government and those running it. Its up to eHealth Ontario to win it back, but with the summer soon approaching, lets hope that it doesn't find itself burried under summer vacation plans.

That is essentially my rant for now. I hope to be able to update the GHBN blog more readily, and I still look forward to meeting anyone that would like to write their own ideas here as well. I will also update you on any changes in the GHBN mandate that should be progressing in the coming months.

Cheers,

Justin