Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell says the new board chair of the Whitehorse General Hospital 'short-circuited the process' in hiring a new CEO for the corporation.

'When it came time to hire a new CEO at the Whitehorse General Hospital, a hiring committee was formed. They came up with a short list. The current CEO was on the list; however, he was not the first choice of the committee,' said Mitchell.

'Before the job could be offered to the top candidate, the chair of the board, who happens to be the former Yukon Party campaign manager, intervened and selected the person who is now the CEO.'

Craig Tuton was appointed as chair on Sept. 7, the day before the writ of 2006 territorial election was dropped.

Michael Aeberhardt was hired as the new CEO on Oct. 31.

Tuton said he had nothing to do with the selection of Aeberhardt.

'I didn't know the man,' said Tuton. 'The board had a hiring committee.'

Tuton said the committee had already narrowed the list of applicants down to Aeberhardt by the time he became chair and he only met the CEO when he first came up to the territory.

The Liberal's suggestion comes in the midst of increasing controversy about the situation at the Whitehorse hospital as reports of nursing shortages and low staff morale continue.

Yukon Medical Association president Rao Tadepalli confirmed for the Star Friday that doctors at the hospital have sent a petition to Aeberhardt calling for his resignation.

And former board chair Marny Ryder has stated the problems coming to light now are just the 'tip of the iceberg.'

Ryder resigned from the board of trustees after having communication problems with Health Minister Brad Cathers and concerns about Tuton's leadership style.

'When Mr. Tuton came in as chair, I wasn't happy with the way things were going and I didn't want to serve out another two years on the board and be the voice of dissent. That's not the way a board should work,' said Ryder.

'The leadership that Mr. Tuton provides to the board is not my style of leadership. I believe that we all speak with one voice. You lead by example.'

Tuton said it is 'inappropriate' for Ryder to be speaking about issues pertaining to the hospital now that she's left the board.

Ryder chaired the hiring committee during the early stages of its process but left after her term as chair of the board of trustees expired on July 1 and she was informed by Cathers that the government was looking for 'renewed leadership.'

She said Aeberhardt wasn't her first choice for CEO.

Though she didn't doubt he could perform as a competent CEO, Aeberhardt had 'no commitment whatsoever to the Yukon.

'Mr. Aeberhardt made it very clear from the beginning that he was here for three years and this was a stepping-stone to other things,' Rider said.

'His family have not moved up. He stays here for X amount of time and then he flies out for a couple of weeks.'

Selecting a CEO is the responsibility of the board and the government is not involved in the process, said Premier Dennis Fentie.

The minister, however, must consummate the appointment.

'Hospital operational issues need to be dealt with by the board that is mandated by act,' said Cathers.

'We respect that board. We respect the job that they do, and we give them the freedom to do that job while supporting them as they need to be supported.'

The CEO and the chair both have the confidence of the government, he said.