Fired Horizon CEO seeks to 'finish unfinished business' as Liberal candidate in Saint John area
Dr. John Dornan nominated as Liberal candidate for Saint John's north end riding
The former head of Horizon Health Network, who was fired by the Progressive Conservative government, will represent the Liberals in the riding of Saint John Portland-Simonds in the upcoming provincial election.
Dr. John Dornan was nominated as candidate for the north end riding Wednesday night in front of a crowd of more than 100 people.
He said it's "an opportunity to finish unfinished business."
When his previous career ended "kind of abruptly," he "didn't feel done," he told CBC News on Thursday.
"I felt that I had a lot of ideas and ability and enthusiasm. And … I wasn't ready to retire or stop."
Dornan, 65, served as president and CEO of Horizon for only four months of his five-year contract when he was publicly fired by Premier Blaine Higgs in 2022.
It was part of a larger shakeup in health-care leadership following the death of a patient in the waiting room of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital's emergency department in Fredericton.
He was awarded a record-breaking $2-million by a labour adjudicator for his unjust dismissal — a decision upheld by a Court of King's Bench judge, appealed by the province, and ultimately settled last month.
Dornan, who now works full time for Horizon as an endocrinologist, a specialist in hormone-related conditions and complications, such as diabetes, thyroid problems, and fertility issues, said he didn't set out to get involved in politics. "It took me a bit by surprise."
But Liberal Leader Susan Holt asked him last fall to offer and "the more I thought about it, the more enthusiastic I became," he said.
"I've worked in health care in excess of 45 years and have lots of ideas, lots of experiences. I made some errors at times, but lots of successes. So I thought I could take that ability forward."
Top priority is primary health care
His top priority, he said, is to see every New Brunswicker with a "medical home," where a multidisciplinary team of health professionals will provide their primary care.
"We've seen the start of this with Family Medicine New Brunswick. Regrettably, it's not moved as quickly as it should."
Dornan thinks the model is "an easier sell" for new doctors, but for those who have established practices, it can be "hard to change."
He believes working with the Liberals will provide him with a "heightened opportunity" to effect the changes that are needed, he said.
Health minister aspirations?
Asked if he aspires to be the next health minister, Dornan said he aspires to be a strong representative for Saint John Portland-Simonds. The riding, whose current name is just Portland-Simonds, has been held for 25 years by Progressive Conservative MLA Trevor Holder, who announced in March he would not seek re-election.
Once we treat our population well — educate them, care for them, house them well, then New Brunswick can't help but thrive.- John Dornan, Liberal candidate in Saint John Portland-Simonds
Dornan described Holt's team as a "smart bunch," with a wide range of experience, including health care, education and finance.
He contends the party is also fiscally responsible and will spend wisely in health care, education, housing and infrastructure "without blowing the bank."
"And once we treat our population well — educate them, care for them, house them well, then New Brunswick can't help but thrive."
With files from Rachel Cave