Photo by Photo Submitted
NEW TOP DOCTOR APPOINTED – Dr. Sudit Ranade will move from Ontario to the Yukon next month to become the territory’s new chief medical officer of health.
New chief medical officer has dabbled in politics
The Yukon has a new chief medical officer of health. One with ties to the Liberal Party of Canada.
The Yukon has a new chief medical officer of health. One with ties to the Liberal Party of Canada.
On Wednesday, Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee announced she has appointed Dr. Sudit Ranade to the job effective July 4.
Ranade ran for the federal Liberals in last fall’s election campaign, failing to win a seat in his Ontario riding.
The situation harkens back to Brendan Hanley, the former CMOH who successfully ran for the Yukon seat – as a Liberal – after 12 years as the territory’s top doctor.
McPhee said, “As the territory’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Ranade will work closely with the Government of Yukon, Yukon First Nations governments, physicians, nongovernmental organizations and other public health stakeholders to serve Yukoners and fulfill the public health needs of the territory.
“He will be responsible for providing evidence-based advice to the Government of Yukon on the territory’s ongoing response and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health matters such as the Substance Use Health Emergency,” the minister said.
“He will also help advise the government as it continues to implement the recommendations from the Putting People First report to transform Yukon’s health and social services system into a more integrated, collaborative and person-centred system that will better meet the needs of Yukoners.”
As for his political connections, McPhee issued a statement to the Star later Wednesday that did not directly address the issue.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Dr. Sudit Ranade to the Yukon as the chief medical officer of health. I know his extensive experience in public health will help this government continue to work to improve the lives of all Yukoners,” she said.
“Due to the pandemic, there is a national and global shortage of health care providers,” McPhee added.
“Given the challenge in recruiting public health physicians in Canada at this time, Medfall, an independent recruitment firm that specializes in physician leadership recruitment, supported this process.
“A hiring committee composed of Medfall lead Robb Callaghan, deputy minister Michael Hale, Dr. Andre Corriveau, Diane Strand and assistant deputy minister Amy Riske recommended this appointment.”
Speaking to the Star this morning, NDP Leader Kate White had no hesitation in addressing the new CMOH’s political pedigree.
“I’m glad to see a new chief medical officer of health after nearly a year without one,” she said. “The apparent Liberal connection, though, isn’t good for public perception and trust.
“I have full trust that partisanship won’t be involved in any decisions that will be made.”
White said she is enthusiastic about the new doctor’s positions on some social issues, such as the decriminaliztion of small amounts of recreational drugs.
The news release that accompanied the announcement stated Ranade is currently the medical officer of health for the County of Lambton and Lambton Public Health in Ontario.
He holds a Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Ottawa.
He completed residency training in Family Medicine and in Public Health through Kingston, Ontario’s Queen’s University.
At that time, he completed a Master of Public Health degree and a Master in Business Administration degree.
Ranade is certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada as well as the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Public Health and Preventative Medicine.
“I am pleased to appoint Dr. Sudit Ranade as the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health,” McPhee said.
“Dr. Ranade has a wide range of public health experience that will help address health challenges in the territory such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Substance Use Health Emergency,” she added.
“I look forward to working with him on how we can strengthen our public health system in the Yukon and support Yukoners in living healthy and happy lives.”
McPhee added, “Thank you to Dr. (Catherine) Elliott for her work over the last year to help lead the territory through the pandemic and other public health initiatives.”
Elliott left the top doctor’s role earlier this year. She had assumed it in late 2021 after Hanley’s resignation.
Rande, meanwhile, will not be available for an interview until after he starts his job in July.
In the release, he was quoted as saying, “I am honoured to be appointed as the Yukon’s chief medical officer of health.
“I look forward to working with the public health team, First Nations and community health leaders and other partners to build a strong public health system for the Yukon, including the implementation of the recommendations in Putting People First.”
Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar
In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.
Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.
Comments (47)
Up 3 Down 1
Roy on Jun 23, 2022 at 11:11 am
@ Joe
You don't read my posts because they trigger you into having to question your narrative.
The Liberals suck. They are barely able to run things without a monthly scandal of some sort.
You ignore me saying this because it means you'd have to confront someone who is "not paid by the Libs/is not a fan of the Liberals" criticizing your complete lack of logic.
Try lessons in reading comprehension. I don't get paid to post and I'm not here in support of any political party - but maybe you do? - that party should ask for a refund cause you're embarrassing them in here.
And yes - you do read my posts. But you can pretend you're not reading this sentence if it makes you feel better.
Up 2 Down 0
Roy on Jun 23, 2022 at 11:04 am
@ Mitch
"How about a CMO who has dabbled in family medicine?"
Bet you felt smart posting that. Got a lot of thumbs up too!
Just FYI - this doctor has a specialty in Family Medicine - which he got before he became a CMO.
So your wishes have come true! Yours and all the upvoters!
Make sure you thank whoever picked this guy!
Up 0 Down 1
Put on your gaslight in the middle of a young Roy’s dream… on Jun 22, 2022 at 8:57 pm
At joe on Jun 22, 2022 at 1:01 pm:
I read Roy’s posts as a sanity check. I have a sticky note on the bathroom mirror that reminds me that if I agree with Roy I am to attend the hospital and request voluntary commitment for acute psychoses.
Up 0 Down 0
I can see the gaslight and by the gaslight on Jun 22, 2022 at 6:39 pm
At - Let's see, which provinces did the WORST during first 2 years? on Jun 22, 2022 at 4:16 pm:
Can you please explain your findings, where did you get your information? Please walk us through your reasoning. Thank you. Until such time as you are willing or able to explain yourself there is nothing to agree or disagree with.
Your contribution is just another opinion in a long line of opinions. It is the vagueness of your assertion that is remarkable. It’s like a drive by gaslighting. Whattt… What The F$#% was that…
Anyway, here is a link to some Health Canada stats. Take your time to frame your argument so we can debate the merits of your opinion. Unless of course you are intentionally being antagonistic for the sake of argument, yes/no?
Link - Let’s discuss this further!
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/
Up 6 Down 17
Let's see, which provinces did the WORST during first 2 years? on Jun 22, 2022 at 4:16 pm
Which premiers didn't listen to their CMO's? the name that comes to mind is Alberta's Jason Kenney (not a Liberal!), who almost a year ago said Alberta would have the 'best summer ever'. How about everyone just forgets about this fellow's political leanings, and just hope he's a good Chief Medical Officer??? Sheesh - we shouldn't even care, and I know I don't.
Up 15 Down 1
Mitch on Jun 22, 2022 at 2:17 pm
How abut a CMO who has dabbled in family medicine?
Up 21 Down 6
joe on Jun 22, 2022 at 1:01 pm
@ Roy...I don't even read your posts anymore...blah, blah ...liberal...blah blah liberal..same ole, same ole. We know you're a paid liberal clicker, probably right out of Richard's office .
Up 4 Down 17
Roy on Jun 22, 2022 at 10:21 am
@DL
“… the NDP is still refusing to admit that these CMO decisions in Canada on covid restrictions were partisanship operations on behalf of the ‘ruling party’ of many western nations, i.e. the World Economic Forum, and Bill Gates’ big pharma money machine. Trudeau and Singh are just puppets who’ll parrot the “Great Reset”
Maybe you can explain this because no other “the Libs! the Libs!” Star poster has been able to:
Why did the Conservative premiers, who were leading 6 out of 10 provinces through the pandemic, have vaccine mandates, lockdowns, mask requirements and very strict restrictions on who could enter their provinces - in some cases more strict than anywhere else in the country?
Why is no one talking about the Conservative party’s role in this “great reset”? Provinces and territories get to decide their own rules. They get to decide how their health care dollars are spent.
So either the Conservatives are part of this great reset - or they are spineless pushovers not worthy of being leaders.
Some of you are gonna say “well they had to they were somehow threatened by Trudeau into it.” Well then why did these Conservative leaders enact the strictest rules in the country? If that’s true (it’s not) why didn’t they just do the minimum?
Your Liberal boogeyman theories conveniently and transparently ignore the above facts. The Conservatives had the same rules and more. They’re either in on the great reset or they are weak as a party across the board.
Up 0 Down 0
Anonymous on Jun 21, 2022 at 6:54 pm
@Jake
See you tomorrow.
Up 24 Down 6
DL on Jun 21, 2022 at 3:07 pm
So, Kate White says “The apparent Liberal connection, though, isn’t good for public perception and trust… I have full trust that partisanship won’t be involved in any decisions that will be made.” It must take a lot of mental gymnastics to contradict yourself like this. Wasn’t Kate White supposed to be ‘listening’ to the people? No, she’s stepped into the political realm of top-down authoritarian ‘do what we say’ politics of the Liberals.
The NDP is still refusing to admit that these CMO decisions in Canada on covid restrictions were partisanship operations on behalf of the ‘ruling party’ of many western nations, i.e. the World Economic Forum, and Bill Gates’ big pharma money machine. Trudeau and Singh are just puppets who’ll parrot the “Great Reset” and “You will own nothing” agenda, without informing Canadians that this is what led us into the present disastrous inflation, and food shortages next winter. Countries which didn’t do covid restrictions didn’t fare worse healthwise, and are in better economic positions now.
Kate, what are you gonna tell folks who now have to choose between paying rent, buying food, or filling up their gas tank to get to work. Ends don’t meet anymore for too many of us.
Up 7 Down 8
Chuck Farley on Jun 21, 2022 at 2:34 pm
Observer; you friggin nailed it and with 46 thumbs down you touched a raw nerve lol all the best to you.
Up 7 Down 5
iBrian on Jun 21, 2022 at 5:31 am
You know, I didn’t know about the CMO position until he tried speaking French back in 2020. Now he’s a MP. Thanks to the conservatives splitting the vote.
Up 27 Down 6
Jeff Bikaboom on Jun 20, 2022 at 4:03 pm
@ Thoughtpolice
"Brace for the fall when a 3rd shot will be mandated citing new dangerous variants of concern, leaving all us 2 dosers to be considered unvaccinated and so punitive restrictions will be imposed upon us."
You are already considered unvaccinated because you are not what Theresa Tam is calling "Up To Date".
Part of me suspects that's what the current lifting of restrictions is about. Instead of punishing the double vaxxed for not being up to date, they will give everyone a little breathing room then clump you in with the unvaxxed in the fall during new restrictions. Welcome. Another part of me thinks we are returning to sanity, thanks partially to Brian Peckford's lawsuit.
Canada has hundreds millions of vaccines preordered and someone will have to take them. I guess it will be those that do the right thing, so they can hug grandma, and there's no more empty chairs at christmas dinner, yada yada yada.
Or have we finally made the transition into the Green Reset? Maybe this year we can lock down due to energy crisis instead of slowing the spread.
Don't worry Dr. Sudit Ranade. Just follow The Hanley playbook and your political career will take off.
Up 16 Down 2
Charlie's Aunt on Jun 20, 2022 at 1:36 pm
According to headline he has only 'dabbled' in politics but sure that will change when he is thrown into deep end of the local pool. I do hope he has accommodation lined up before he arrives!!!
Up 32 Down 10
John on Jun 19, 2022 at 11:51 am
@ unreal
Give your head a shake son. When I go into the ER it doesn't matter because the MD is not a government employee. On the other hand the CMO is an employee and therefore his politics do matter.
Up 38 Down 7
Groucho d'North on Jun 19, 2022 at 9:29 am
It was a select group of party faithful within YG who made the recomendation to hire this fellow. It would be nice to see the criteria they used to make their decision, but now they are in defence mode so anything they may now say is suspect of just covering their backsides.
Up 34 Down 6
Vlad on Jun 18, 2022 at 7:02 pm
@kate white. "I have full trust that partisanship won't be involved in any decisions that will be made". Do you mean besides the one we are already faced with?
Reminds me of my young years in one of the communist paradises.
Up 11 Down 26
unReal on Jun 18, 2022 at 4:55 pm
Hey, if you rolled into the emergency room at WGH, why would some of you want to know the doctor's political affiliations before he performs life saving surgery on you?
Up 33 Down 6
NeilAlexGeddy on Jun 18, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Political appointment or the only candidate who was willing to take the post?
Up 45 Down 10
Shawna on Jun 18, 2022 at 8:50 am
Another globalist puppet
Totally agree Lawrence Bredy; should have closed the borders to Ontario subjects long ago...
LOL
Up 12 Down 40
Jake on Jun 17, 2022 at 5:41 pm
This forum has had some contentious moments but usually there was enough good and logical insight that it was worth keeping up with.
But for me that has ended. Abuse and ignorance, and when people sign on just to insult others or provoke or bait responses for entertainment, leads me to cancel subscriptions and delete the URL from the laptop. I'll miss a few of you but most of the new people I won't, and they won't miss me I know.
I doubt the Star can continue supporting such stupidity either.
Up 9 Down 12
bonanzajoe on Jun 17, 2022 at 4:36 pm
@Observer on Jun 17, do you have evidence of this?
Up 21 Down 5
Mitch Holder on Jun 17, 2022 at 2:20 pm
@ Sheepchaser - He IS from outside, dolt.
Up 46 Down 16
Thoughtpolice on Jun 17, 2022 at 1:38 pm
Thank you to Tim and the Star for bringing this to people’s attention for it deserves public scrutiny.
I for one am not surprised that your local politicians have appointed another liberal ‘follow the science without ever sharing the science because they aren’t interested in real science, only the state approved The Science’ fanatics. I do wonder what ever happened to your last CMOH, didn’t hear much from Elliott after I shared a study of hers that showed the uselessness of masking, especially in children, as she continued to impose mask mandates for young healthy kids.
Hate to say it, but your new CMOH appears far more dangerous as he is not only a liberal, but one that hails from Ontario AND he was educated at the indoctrination centre of Ottawa, I mean the university of Ottawa..
Sorry about your luck Yukon. Brace for the fall when a 3rd shot will be mandated citing new dangerous variants of concern, leaving all us 2 dosers to be considered unvaccinated and so punitive restrictions will be imposed upon us. (Something already happening is the rise of job postings requiring applicants have 3 covid shots in order to be considered for the position.) What’s worse, I can almost guarantee now that the corrupt FDA has approved these so called “vaccines” for under 5's this liberal schill will be recommending you all rush to get your babies injected even though there is no evidence to support under 5's are at any kind of risk from covid. A fact which is apparent in this recent enlightening conversation between Dr. Senator Rand Paul and Fauci:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3ICBBK-d-C0
Up 53 Down 11
Lawrence Bredy on Jun 17, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Like we need another Ontario Liberal moving here...gawd, kill me now!
Up 54 Down 14
John on Jun 17, 2022 at 11:58 am
It is never a good way to come to the Yukon to such an important role as CMO. Carrying political baggage, especially that of the current government smacks of, well let us just say something stinks in Denmark. He will forever carry this mantel. At least a good portion of the population will not trust him in his pronouncements, believing they are likely politically motivated. We put up with Hanley 1.0 and 2.0 and their shenanigans. One point zero was deceitful, simply using the position as a stepping stone, while 2.0 did not have the best interest of Yukoners - except for a chosen few. Never mind the fact that she was in over her head.
I would like to welcome you if you had no obvious deep rooted political connections, but sadly I can not. As Al as noted, you will be forever dubbed Hanley 3.0. A distinction you will soon find out you would rather not have.
Up 16 Down 15
Wilf Carter on Jun 17, 2022 at 11:57 am
This spring and summer according history is perfect growing weather for Yukoners living south of Dawson to Watson Lake. 1,000 year normal weather for all Yukoners. Normal erosion situation through out the Yukon that occurs in many parts of Yukon like high water levels. Which we as humans have not learn from history that trees hold all the history in them in their rings to tell us humans the history of weather in the Yukon over the last 200 years or more.
Up 51 Down 18
Mitch Holder on Jun 17, 2022 at 11:47 am
@YT - Says the person living in a country that can't even afford nothing burgers. And yes, given nationwide Liberal hatred for two years of being held medically hostage while race baiting and identity politics was prioritized over a global pandemic, you bet that party makes a difference. Name one thing the Conservatives did in this pandemic that made Canadian lives worse. I can spout you off a list of Liberal failures, backed by evidence. This medical officer might be among them. The last two certainly were.
Up 24 Down 57
Observer on Jun 17, 2022 at 9:54 am
It truly is funny how the neo cons complain, but never look at their own house. For years, absolute years the cons hired nothing but con cronies and not a word of concern from these commenters. Now that the shoe is on the other foot.......
Up 11 Down 5
dave on Jun 17, 2022 at 8:42 am
i should should show him the land.
Someone call the doctor.
Up 56 Down 16
DL on Jun 17, 2022 at 1:37 am
So, the Liberals' new appointed CMO is a Dr. Sudit Ranade with ties to the Liberals. No surprise there. In this puppet show, follow the levers all the way to the top, and you'll see big pharma billionaires who have enormously profited from the covid plandemic. I'm sure that this new political appointment will follow the same line. The fact that the public no longer trust these medical directives is of no concern to the Liberals.
Up 43 Down 9
Juniper Jackson on Jun 16, 2022 at 11:05 pm
Well colour me surprised!!!! Not.
Up 47 Down 11
jack on Jun 16, 2022 at 9:08 pm
Yet another Ontario Liberal Party hack...... surely there are better candidates already in the north.
This guy will leave the instant his time is done.
Up 48 Down 12
Dallas on Jun 16, 2022 at 8:39 pm
Another Ontario liberal import that can go forth and be fruitful with himself.
Up 46 Down 14
bonanzajoe on Jun 16, 2022 at 8:36 pm
Can he be fired when the Yukon Party forms another government? I think he should be. Then the YP can play the Liberals game of political appointments.
Up 37 Down 9
bonanzajoe on Jun 16, 2022 at 8:34 pm
@Thomas Brewer. I wouldn't call the Liberals shady, I would call them
transparent - you can see right through them.
Up 15 Down 43
melba on Jun 16, 2022 at 6:48 pm
He seems like the ambitious type. Sometimes that's good because they are motivated to actually do work and improve things instead of sitting around collecting 3/4's of a million bucks to read releases from Ottawa.
Give the guy a chance!
Up 16 Down 6
Chuck Farley on Jun 16, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Damned if you do; damned if you don't.
Up 10 Down 51
Sheepchaser on Jun 16, 2022 at 5:47 pm
Any doctors under 60 years of age on the Yukon Party membership roster? Yeah, I didn’t think so. What other option did they have? Hire from ‘outside’? Then all the conservatives would still be crying foul.
Maybe they should have hired a truck driver, am I right?
Up 21 Down 34
Roy on Jun 16, 2022 at 5:14 pm
Can someone tell me what the CMOHs in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, and PEI did during the pandemic?
What about the premiers of those provinces - can someone tell me what they did during the pandemic?
Because based off the comments in here we can safely say the only places that had vaccine mandates and restrictions and lockdowns and mandatory masking were in the Liberal led provinces and territories.
It must have been wonderful to be in Alberta during the pandemic - having Conservative leaders keeping "freedom" in mind and not bothering with mandates and such!
I mean other than Alberta and Saskatchewan having to fly their hospital patients to Ontario because their hospitals were overflowing. And other than New Brunswick not allowing any Canadians to enter the province unless they lived there.
Fact: Those Conservative leaders had the same if not more restrictive approaches to covid....yet that FACT gets ignored in the Yukon because 1) a lot if you can't see past your own tiny yard and 2) it ruins your "Liberal boogeyman" narrative - if you can't blame the Libs for your unhappiness you might just end up having to blame yourself! That sounds like it will hurt your ego....best to blame the Libs then.
*and this is specially for BonanzoJoe who has a memory that gets erased after each Star comment section he reads: I am not a paid Liberal -the Liberals suck. They can't seem to do anything right - here or at the federal level. But....they are better than the immature children that run the Yukon Party and they are better than the dreamers in the NDP. Don't even get me started on Jonas and whatever conspiracy he's cooking up
Up 120 Down 23
…. on Jun 16, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Of course he has, cause it’s a political role rather than a medical role. We’re doomed.
Up 116 Down 22
Gary on Jun 16, 2022 at 4:32 pm
Yet another hand picked puppet!
Up 129 Down 26
Thomas Brewer on Jun 16, 2022 at 3:49 pm
So, was the good Dr. Rande selected because he was the best candidate or because his political ideology dovetailed with the current sitting government?
These liberals are so shady.
Up 120 Down 26
Al on Jun 16, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Well now isn't this just ducky. Another card carrying Liberal from Ontario. Great, he already comes with political baggage. Surely to bloody hell we can do better than this. Cronyism at it's best. His political affiliation must have been the primary item to be checked off on the must have by the head hunters.
Another Liberal lackey.
Things never change - except to get worse. Hanley 3.0...
Up 109 Down 24
Fringe Minority with Unacceptable Views on Jun 16, 2022 at 3:41 pm
Personally, the fact that the new CMO has ties to the Liberals is a negative quality. Not sure about the rest of you but I'm getting a bit sick of people from Ontario coming to the North and telling us how to live. Focusing back on the Liberal connection I'm sure it will be more of "trust the science" without showing your work. All hail science! Science save us! It's getting a bit cult like up in here.
Up 83 Down 28
Mitch Holder on Jun 16, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Then why would the Yukon want him? Considering we drove out the last two Liberal snake-oil sales persons. You would think previous political time would preclude the individual from this position at this point. But of course, Liberal failure, liberal helpings of failure for all. Almost as good as food.
Up 36 Down 94
YT on Jun 16, 2022 at 3:26 pm
If the new CMO had run for the Conservative Party, would that make it ok?
Sometimes, it’s nothing but a coincidence, but people love to make a banquets from a nothing burger.