Health Minister Christine Elliott is defending the $348,000 salary for former hospital president Rueben Devlin atop a six-figure public pension in his new role devising ways to end “hallway medicine.”The retired orthopedic surgeon, former president of the Progressive Conservative party and friend of Premier Doug Ford was named to the patronage post two weeks ago following the PC government’s first cabinet meeting.“It’s important that we keep costs in mind as we go forward, but I’m sure that what is going to come forward is of great benefit, both in terms of cost and of patient care,” Elliott told the Star. “What we’re looking at is what he can bring to the table. And, yes, he has been running a hospital for a number of years. He was very involved in the construction of the new Humber hospital, which is pretty much a digitized hospital, and that’s what we need to look at for the future.”As longtime president and chief executive of Humber River Hospital, from which he retired in 2016, the well-regarded Devlin earned about $500,000 a year, which puts him in line for a pension of roughly $300,000 annually, sources said.Devlin declined to comment. Read more: Ontario Tories’ point man on health care wants more innovationA year ago Christine Elliott was a patient of the health system she now oversees as ministerOpinion | Hepburn: Ford’s cynical display of political patronageThe “double-dipping” of a hefty salary and similar-sized pension is appalling given Ford’s mantra of “respect for taxpayers,” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said of Devlin’s three-year contract to solve hospital overcrowding that results in patients being treated in hallways, lounges and even washrooms, often in peak flu season.“Over three years, that’s $1 million. That would employ a number of nurses to try to help deal with our hallway medicine crisis,” added Horwath, who ...
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