EDMONTON- Alberta’s Health Minister is encouraging health executives to exercise their right when it comes to performance bonuses.

The move comes nearly three weeks after Fred Horne fired the entire 10-person Alberta Health Services board. The board voted to award millions of dollars in “pay at risk” bonuses for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, despite a request from the province to reconsider. The board defended the decision saying executives were entitled to the pay because of legal implications in the contract.

After receiving a report from AHS’ new administrator, Janet Davidson, Horne said he realized executives are entitled to the pay by law. He is now reversing the decision, encouraging employees to exercise their rights to bonuses.