Turbayne leaves job as regional director-general

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Elizabeth Turbayne is no longer the regional director-general of Indian Affairs in Alberta.

According to her replacement, Turbayne became the latest victim of a nationwide shuffle aimed at diversifying department heads.

Turbayne has been transferred to Ottawa in another capacity with the department.

Garry Wouters, who took over her position last wee, the top Indian Affairs post in Alberta, said that it's not unusual for "headquarters" to swap regional directors with officials in Ottawa to give them experience at both ends of the department.

""There has been a series of changes with the regional director-generals across the country...to get a better understanding of how the business works," he said.

Turbayne, who has been the focus of some contempt by Indian leaders for more than a year for not meeting with them publicly, is on a leave of absence and could not be reached for comment.

The director of Indian Affairs for Alberta, Fred Jobin, has also left the regional office for another civil service job. He was also unavailable for comment.

Wouters, 45, has worked for the Indian Affairs department for five years beginning his career as director of operation in Saskatchewan.

Before that, he was the deputy minister of continuing education for Saskatchewan.

He also served as the regional director-general of Indian Affairs in Ontario and worked in the Ottawa office as the director-general of band support.

He said he's not yet "fully" familiar with the Alberta Indian bands and plans to hold meeting with leaders from across the province.

"In this business, if you can't work with Indian people in a co-operative and collaborative basis, you'll never solve the problems," he said.

The president of the Indian Association of Alberta is hoping Wouters will live up to his word.

Roy Louis, who believes Turbayne was forced to step aside because Alberta Native leaders were unhappy with her performance, said Wouters has "an appreciation for Native culture and Native values."

Lois met with Wouters for the first time Feb.7 in Edmonton.