Let me be perfectly clear -- this is not an attack on religion.  This is an observation on what I perceive to be a horrible waste of tax payer dollars based on faulty logic.

The decision by the LHSC and St.Joeseph's to hire two CEOs to replace one has become the subject of increased debate following word last week the hospitals would be laying off staff in order to balance their budgets.

Most estimate the decision to hire what amounts to an extra CEO will wind up costing the hospitals -- and by extension us -- an additional $200,000 per year.  That doesn't even include the extra staff this new executive would need to hire, along with additional costs.

It's worth noting the LHSC was in support of continuing with the existing arrangement (one CEO for both hospitals) while St.Joseph's was not.

Why?

Because, according to the Chair of the Board at St.Joseph's, they're a "catholic health care centre".

What does that mean?

Well, again -- according to the Chair -- as a catholic health care centre, they advocate for those "forgotten, disadvantaged and the marginalized."  They also express concern for the "poor, the elderly, the chronically sick and dying".

... and the LHSC, or any other "non-catholic health care centre" for that matter, doesn't?

St.Joseph's Chair assures us they don't exclude anyone, regardless of their religious background -- and I agree, they don't.  The doctors, nurses and other staff help people of all faiths and religions which is why I'm still unclear as to how and why a "catholic health care centre" differs from any other health care centre.

I'm also unclear as to why St.Joseph's cites concern about losing its "catholic identity" (which still has not been clearly defined nor distinguished) as one of the reasons for choosing to hire its own CEO.

Why was this not a concern over the past 4 years while Cliff Nordal was the CEO at both St.Joe's and the LHSC?  This is the first we've heard about a sudden onset of identity crisis.

While I'm asking all these questions, I think there's at least one more worth asking.  Why should we -- as taxpayers -- spend an extra $200,000 to allow this?

The reasons given thus far are, frankly, quite weak.  If you want to argue the hospitals can be managed more efficiently with two sets of eyes keeping watch over such a massive operation -- perhaps to avoid future Dianne Beattie scandals -- I can understand.  If you want to argue both hospitals can somehow save money by hiring two CEOs instead of one, as hard as it would be to believe, I'd at least be willing to listen.

What I'm not willing to accept is what we're being told at the moment -- that an organization funded by public dollars generated by people of all beliefs, religions and backgrounds feels its in danger of losing a "catholic identity" which -- by their own definition -- is essentially the same as that of any reputable health care institution, "catholic" or otherwise.

What makes this especially hard to swallow is the fact such a decision, and the added expenses that would come with it, is being made at a time when multiple nurses have been issued layoff notices.

How many jobs could be saved by keeping the current arrangement of one CEO instead of two?

It may only be a handful, but still -- there's a much bigger difference between saving several jobs and saving none at all, especially when compared to the difference between a catholic health care centre and a "non-Catholic" health care centre.

If St.Joeseph's is truly interested in maintaining its catholic identity, perhaps the board should revisit Proverbs 11:1 in the Bible which reads "a false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight."