(CHAT News file photo)

By Canadian Press

Alberta hires former Manitoba chief judge to investigate health spending scandal

Mar 3, 2025 | 5:35 PM

EDMONTON — The former head of Manitoba’s provincial court has been hired by the Alberta government to investigate allegations of improper behaviour and spending irregularities in health contracts.

The government says Raymond Wyant’s work is to begin immediately with an interim report done by the end of May.

He is to review multimillion-dollar contracts for children’s medication and for surgeries done by for-profit providers.

The controversy surfaced last month, when the former head of Alberta Health Services filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, Athana Mentzelopoulos alleges high-level government interference and lucrative health deals for third parties.

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Wyant is the former chief judge of the provincial court of Manitoba, has also worked as a defence lawyer and a Crown prosecutor, and has taught law at the University of Manitoba.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi reiterated Monday that the scandal, “deserves a pull public inquiry,” and called the judge “hand-picked” by Smith.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2025; the final line was added by rdnewsNOW.

(The Canadian Press)

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