A former B.C. health official has been sentenced to two years' probation for his role in the corruption-plagued process to develop the province's eHealth program.
Ron Danderfer, a former assistant deputy health minister, pleaded guilty last week to one count of breach of trust, and was sentenced in Victoria provincial court on Thursday.
"I regret very much the circumstances that brought us together today," he told reporters outside the court.
"There's a huge element of disgrace. It's not something you're proud of.... It's very hard for my family -- it's very hard for me. I can't describe it."
Danderfer was in charge of the government's multi-million-dollar project to computerize patient health records. He was nearing the end of what was regarded as an upstanding 35-year career when he admits that he accepted benefits -- including free accommodation and a job for his wife -- from Dr. Jonathan Burns.
The Abbotsford physician was a government contractor at the time. He has already pleaded guilty to influence-peddling and is currently on probation.
Special prosecutor John Waddell was assigned to investigate the scandal, and says Danderfer let himself get too close to a service provider.
"Really what this was, was a public servant who lost his way," Waddell said.
Defence lawyer Mayland McKimm says that Danderfer's mistakes were small compared to the impact they have had on his life.
"It's just two small errors of judgment on Mr. Danderfer's part that cost him his career," McKimm said.
Danderfer will also serve 100 hours of community service as part of his sentence and has been ordered to pay a small fine.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jim Beatty
