Crystal Ellingsen and Jennifer Brady are once again speaking out after a previous legal battle with the Nova Scotia government. Both women suffer from severe chronic illnesses that couldn’t be treated locally. They were forced to pay substantial amounts for medical care in other provinces and abroad after being denied coverage for out-of-province treatment. In response, they filed a lawsuit against Nova Scotia’s Health Department in 2022, leading to a favorable ruling in 2024 that found the province had violated their rights by refusing to cover their procedures.
Following the groundbreaking court decision, Premier Tim Houston made a U-turn and pledged to reimburse the women’s past expenses and fund their future treatments. Additionally, he initiated an audit of out-of-province medical care practices. However, recent developments indicate that Houston is now proposing changes to enhance the government’s authority over the auditor general’s office, causing concerns for Ellingsen and Brady regarding the fate of the audit.
Houston introduced a bill that would allow the government to dismiss the auditor general without cause with the support of two-thirds of the legislature. The bill also grants the justice minister the power to redact parts of the auditor general’s reports and lets the cabinet keep certain reports confidential. The proposed changes have raised alarms as they could hinder the transparency and effectiveness of the auditor general’s work.
Ellingsen and Brady, while appreciative of the promises fulfilled by Houston, remain vigilant in advocating for systemic improvements that could benefit others in need of medical care. They emphasize the importance of a transparent and thorough review to drive positive changes in the healthcare system. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of the proposed bill on the independence and integrity of the auditor general’s office, with calls for its repeal.
Despite Houston’s assertion that the proposed changes align with practices in other provinces, critics argue that the bill could lead to increased censorship and control over governmental accountability. Ellingsen and Brady continue to voice their concerns in hopes of safeguarding public access to unbiased audit reports and ensuring accountability in healthcare governance. The fate of the bill remains uncertain, with potential legislative action expected in the near future.
