A former B.C. assistant deputy health minister has pleaded guilty to a corruption charge in connection with the province's troubled eHealth program.
Ron Danderfer entered a guilty plea to one count of breach of trust in Victoria provincial court on Monday; a remaining three charges of breach of trust and fraud will be stayed.
The former bureacrat's lawyer said the decision to plead guilty was made after a long discussion with Crown prosecutors and that the charge relates to accepting benefits beyond what is allowed by government policy.
Danderfer had previously pleaded not guilty to all four counts against him. A sentencing hearing has now been scheduled for July 14.
The charges arise out of the B.C. government's project to computerize patient health records to help streamline the delivery of services and save money. Dr. Jonathan Burns, a consultant for the healthy ministry, and James Taylor, manager of network services for the Fraser Health Authority, were also charged for their roles in the alleged scheme.
Earlier this year, Burns pleaded guilty to paying a reward and providing an advantage to government officials in the case.
In exchange for the guilty plea, six other charges were dropped and Burns got a three-year suspended sentence.
Burns admitted in court that he allowed two B.C. officials to use his exclusive rental condo in Kelowna and then won lucrative health ministry contracts.
Information contained in an RCMP search warrant alleged Danderfer offered to use his influence to help Burns's firm win a contract.
The warrant alleged that Danderfer accepted benefits from Burns that included allowing Burns to hire Danderfer's wife.
With files from The Canadian Press
