Worker with Manitoba health authority fired for 'deeply hurtful' social media post over landfill search

The Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority logo. Uploaded Jan. 8, 2024. (Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority/Facebook)

An employee is no longer with the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (IERHA) following a post on social media about the landfill search for two murdered Indigenous women.

The post made reference to the landfill search at Prairie Green Landfill, saying the premier needs to not worry about the search and put the money toward health care.

"Leadership was made aware of a social media post disparaging the search for the remains of murdered Indigenous women. Multiple staff members recognized the post as racist and brought it forward to leadership," IERHA said in a post on Facebook.

The IERHA said it was able to confirm the post was from an employee, and they were asked to remove it.

"The employee is now no longer working with IERHA.

"Posts of this nature are deeply hurtful. We remain committed to reconciliation, anti-racism and to mitigating further harms through swift and decisive action."

In an emailed statement to CTV News Winnipeg, Janet Kehler, the director of member services for the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, said they are against all forms of racism.

"Like all unions, MGEU has a legal obligation under the Labour Relations Act to provide representation to all members. MGEU cannot comment on any individual’s employment circumstances," said Kehler.

Responding to the post, Minister of Families Nahanni Fontaine said Indigenous women and girls deserve to be respected in life and death.

"Even in death, Indigenous women's humanity and worth are questioned, dismissed or erased. The violence we face isn't just physical. It's systemic and it's in the narratives devaluing us at every turn," Fontaine said in a Facebook post.

"I genuinely feel sorry for this individual to be so divorced from themselves and from the collective of who we are as Manitobans."

A search is underway at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris, who were killed by convicted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki.