Caught sneaking out of a high-level meeting about the situation in the province’s emergency rooms, Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett refused to speak with reporters, claiming that he could not talk while eating his cookie. Yes, his cookie.
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25 replies on “stephen duckett: “i’m eating my cookie.””
It really depends. If it was one of those white chocolate chunk cookies, I understand that he’d be too busy to talk. Those things are delicious.
If there were any raisins in there though, or weird grains or something, that’s a second rate cookie. No excuse to skip the interview for a cookie like that.
I’m sure that the people languishing in emergency rooms across the province will be happy to know that this particular cookie was thoroughly enjoyed, whichever flavour it was.
I am outraged at Stephen Duckett’s response to reporters. While he’s been eating his high priced cookies, costing tax payers millions of dollars, we are getting the crumbs.
I say it is time to be rid of this arrogant high priced fat cat.
I hope he chokes on it. What an arrogant idiot Duckett is.
What situation in emergency rooms? My only experiences with them, and our health care system in general have been pretty fantastic. My only complaint is that it doesn’t seem fair that everyone else has to pay for my care.
But let the man eat his cookie and talk when he has time to, don’t just pounce on the guy while he’s trying to grab a quick bite in between meetings. I’d have falcon punched those idiots.
He should be fired as per Clause #4 and Clause #28 of his contract. Any bureaucrat paid this much knows better. His contempt for the people of Alberta is unbelievable, and totally unacceptable, in the opinion of someone who pays his salary.
http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/org/ahs-org-contract-dr-duckett.pdf
Dismissal for unprofessional conduct, with no severance pay.
I toooo love koook-ies!
Love the opposition responses…particularly “let’s decentralize because Duckett said something douchey.”
Ummmm…not that the idea perhaps doesn’t have a lot of merit…but really? The rationale for policy is driven by batting at transitory shiny things like “someone under stress not using their inside voice?”
By this rationale, Airdrie would be having a by-election every time Rob Anderson opened his smarmy little cake-hole.
Did anyone notice the jaywalking besides me?
Overpaid smart ass. Shame on him.
Joke all you wish Jenn, Albertans have died waiting for care. Died.
Those individuals will not have any more opportunities to joke. Not to be heavy but at least consider that for one short moment. Good people, gone… And no good reason for it.
Outrageous and entirely unacceptable by any standard in my humble opinion.
Cheers Dave.
It is clear that Stephen Duckett has to go. But how is the damage inflicted on health care in Alberta ever to be repaired? We are mired in massive hierarchies of administration. Ed Stelmach owes it to Albertans to provide facts and figures to prove that any of this has actually saved any money and/or has improved health care access. That will be a tough job!!
I think there is enough evidence on that video to issue Mr. Lame Duck a J-walking ticket.
He should have been gone long before the cookie::
About one month after he arrived.
[…] intrigue, the suspension of Edmonton-Meadowlark MLA Raj Sherman and Stephen Duckett‘s cookie-tantrum, are overshadowing the larger challenges facing our health care […]
Does not matter he goes or not, he made himself famous and/or members of Alberta government:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Duckett#Cookie_Controversy
http://wn.com/Stephen_Duckett
Cookie or no cookie. Be polite, take 30 seconds to respond, even if it is a polite “no comment”.
If he was truly leaving a meeting early, he deserves to be stopped by the media.
JB – good comment on the Jay walking đ
my comment is to ron liepert: you BIG CRY BABY, THIS IS THE WAY YOU HAVE BEEN TREATING WE ALBERTANS SINCE YOU TOOK OVER THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. GO IN THE CORNER AND POUT ALL YOU WANT, YOU DESERVED THIS.
THANK YOU DR. SHERMAN FOR SPEAKING OUT FOR US.
This guy is my new hero of the week. However emotional you feel about the state of health care in Alberta, Duckett was brought in from New Zealand to help Alberta and he’s done a lot of good work. The guy deserves a cookie in between all his meetings. Nothing gives me more entertainment than watching journalists run after him, confounded they can’t get anything from him. LOL
Do some research and find out what Duckett has done in his career. He doesn’t owe journalists one bloody second of his precious time. And if the public wants to find something out, journalists know they need to approach spokespersons for AB Health.
And what’s wrong with some personality?? We’re so bent on being politically correct, let’s enjoy the cookie monster for gawd’s sake.
How much is it goig to cost us to get ri of this egotistical ignorant idiot? The last one only lasted 9 months and it cost the taxpayer 1.3 million in severance.
Anna Black – He’s from Australia, not New Zealand; Thanks for blaming the lesser country though :). It would be a very American thing to take credit (or avoid criticism) where it is not due though.
This guy should never have been fired! Sure, apoligize to all the cry babies who believe the media was offended. This guy works for us not the media. He has done a great job so far. Problems with our emergency rooms were being fixed before the media thought they could cash in. Didn’t your Mom tell you not to eat with your mouth full.
[…] Capital Health until it was merged into AHS in 2008, Ms. Weatherill was appointed to the AHS board after the departure of controversial former AHS President and CEO Stephen Duckett in late 2010. Ms. Weatherill was Mr. Merali’s boss when he served as CFO of […]
[…] Kubish then discussed his current research project examining the Stephen Duckett âcookie affairâ. Glenn explained how the event played out from the newsroomâs point of view and in the […]
[…] Minister Gene Zwozdesky pressed the AHS board to fire CEO and President Stephen Duckett after his infamous “I’m eating a cookie” incident. Dr. Duckett’s departure helped deflect other criticisms the government was facing at the […]
[…] Kubish then discussed his current research project examining the Stephen Duckett âcookie affairâ. Glenn explained how the event played out from the newsroomâs point of view and in the […]