The B.C. government apologized Friday for firing a University of Victoria co-op student who killed himself six months afterward.

The firing of the student, working as a researcher under ministry supervision, was heavy-handed, said Health Minister Terry Lake.

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He admitted that an emotional public appeal from the dead man’s sister, Linda Kayfish, forced the apology.

“Hearing Ms. Kayfish touched us all,” Lake said. “And I will say, yes, it forced us to really think about the need for an apology. There’s no question about it.”

Kayfish cried when the Times Colonist broke the news to her that a written apology was on its way.

Her brother Roderick MacIsaac, 46, was fired in August 2012, three days before his co-op term ended. Distraught, he took his life on Jan. 8, 2013.

“That’s the best we could get — that’s wonderful news,” Kayfish said of the apology. “I feel like I can breathe again, that I did my brother some justice today.”

A $3.4-million investigation led to seven employees and at least one contractor losing their jobs at the ministry. There were allegations of conflict of interest, inappropriate conduct and data mismanagement in the ministry’s pharmaceutical services division.

MacIsaac had maintained that the investigation was excessive and conspiratorial and he would never be vindicated, brother-in-law Doug Kayfish said Friday.

“That’s how I felt until a few days ago — that no one cared,” Linda Kayfish said. “I feel relief. I knew my brother didn’t do anything wrong.”

NDP Leader John Horgan said the apology “was the right thing to do and long overdue.” He praised the Kayfish family.

“I am so proud of their courage,” Horgan said. “It’s regrettable that the premier didn’t find the time to call Linda and Doug … but it’s a good day for those who see [and act upon] injustice.”

Last October, Lake told the Times Colonist he was confident a thorough investigation had been done. At the time, he issued only condolences to MacIsaac’s friends and family.

Lake, who was not minister at the time of the firings, said Friday “the discipline enacted was heavy-handed.”

“To be fired when you are working under the supervision of other employees is disproportionate,” Lake said. “We have come to the conclusion that other types of actions should have been considered rather than firing him."

Deputy Health Minister Stephen Brown plans to write the Kayfish family a letter of apology and condolence.

“We know that his family deserves an apology, which is what we’re doing today, and we hope to sit with them and explain the circumstances,” Lake said.

Since the firings, three employees have settled wrongful-dismissal lawsuits out of court.

The grievances of three union employees — including MacIsaac — were settled through the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union.

The Kayfish family received a payout for the remaining days in MacIsaac’s contract: $482.53.

charnett@timescolonist.com