We've already heard what the politicians and the pundits have to say about Stephen Harper's decision to name first-time Inuit MP Leona Aglukkaq, from Nunavut, to be the new federal health minister.
But what do Nunavut doctors think about the decision? I asked Dr Aaron Johnston, who until recently was working full-time in the territorial capital, Iqaluit. Although he has moved back down south to the Vancouver area, Dr Johnston, a family practitioner, still flies up north occasionally to help out.
Here's what he emailed me about Ms Aglukkaq:
"As you well know Nunavut has health care challenges that are unique in Canada. She has managed the health system for a territory with the lowest health status in all of Canada, and during her time as minister the system has made slow but steady improvements and gains. She has always seemed to have a good grasp of both acute health care and the underlying social determinants of health. Obviously the federal health minister manages a system orders of magnitude larger than the system in Nunavut and with different challenges, but her experiences in managing the ultimate 'have-not' system should serve her well.What do you make of the controversial decision to make Ms Aglukkaq our new health minister? Leave us your thoughts in the 'Comments' section below.
"I think there are 2 other important points to make about Leona's appointment. First, it is a refreshing change to see an Inuit woman in this kind of high profile cabinet post. Hopefully she will be able to provide some focus on the health status of Canada's First Nations people. Second, although Leona is a Conservative MP her background is as an MLA in a consensus parliament rather than a partisan parliament, and perhaps that will be of some use to her in this minority government situation.
"I think people will be surprised by how well she will do in her new position!"
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