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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

nenshi calls for premier's resignation

Alberta’s Auditor General investigating allegations of corruption involving medical purchases, surgical contracts

Feb 6, 2025 | 4:11 PM

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith must answer questions and step aside, if you ask Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, who is calling for four investigations into what he describes as unprecedented allegations of high-level corruption into medical purchases and surgery contracts.

Nenshi says Smith, as well as Health Minister and Red Deer-North MLA Adriana LaGrange, plus Andre Tremblay, who heads day-to-day operations of the province’s health system, should resign while investigators, the RCMP included, investigate.

Nenshi made his remarks after Globe and Mail report which cited a letter from the lawyer for Athana Mentzelopoulos, who was fired in January as CEO of Alberta Health Services.

The letter accuses the United Conservative Party government of wide-ranging corruption, including inflating contracts for private surgery providers, conflicts of interest and firing Mentzelopoulos because she tried to investigate.

Smith and LaGrange did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Canadian Press. LaGrange did, however, issue a statement late Thursday, saying the personnel changes are part of the planned Feb. 1 transition of AHS to the new Acute Care Alberta agency.

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LaGrange said with respect to the allegations made by the outgoing CEO, AHS is reviewing them, “but the interpretation that her termination was due to AHS’ review of certain procurement decisions are false.”

Alberta’s auditor general, Doug Wylie, said Thursday that he is examining the circumstances.

“I recently commenced an examination of the Procurement and Contracting Processes at the Department of Health and Alberta Health Services,” said Wylie. “At this time, the examination pertains to Chartered Surgical Facilities, Medication (ibuprofen or acetaminophen), and COVID-19 Personal Protection Equipment.”

The examination is looking at the effectiveness of management and control processes — including governance and oversight—ensuring value for Albertans while addressing concerns or allegations related to contracting and potential conflicts of interest, Wylie’s office explained.

If necessary, the examination may extend to other organizations.

Results of this work will be made available to all Albertans when the report(s) are tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

LaGrange added that she welcomes Wylie’s investigation.

Advocacy group Friends of Medicare also weighed in, saying the original article warrants immediate investigation, adding that if true, the allegations are, “truly shocking.”

“Albertans deserve answers to any suggestion that there may have been political interference in the procurement processes that have been responsible for turning over millions of our public health care dollars to for-profit businesses,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director.

“The Auditor General’s investigation must be made a priority and be allowed to continue unimpeded by anyone in the government, with full access to any required records. All information uncovered should be turned over to the RCMP for further investigation. Anything less is unacceptable.”

Gallaway reiterated the belief that this and other actions by the provincial government are part of an, “aggressive privatization agenda.”

(with files from The Canadian Press)

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