Alberta Heath corruption scandal

[MilEME09]

This probably deserves its own thread as it has morphed into one of the largest political scandals in provincial history. Our health care is definitely a mess here but to have a minister set contract prices, and shut down internal audits, hopefully the RCMP are called in soon.

Alberta Minister stripped health agency of power to negotiate private surgical contracts, document shows

Letter alleges government eroded ex-CEO’s authority to negotiate deals

www.theglobeandmail.com

Mod edit to add archived link to article in case previous link doesn't work.

 

[daftandbarmy]

This probably deserves its own thread as it has morphed into one of the largest political scandals in provincial history. Our health care is definitely a mess here but to have a minister set contract prices, and shut down internal audits, hopefully the RCMP are called in soon.

Alberta Minister stripped health agency of power to negotiate private surgical contracts, document shows

Letter alleges government eroded ex-CEO’s authority to negotiate deals

www.theglobeandmail.com

 

[brihard]

Unfortunately the original article in paywalled.

I’m not up to speed on this one; this CTV article seems to give a good rundown though. At first glance, it’s concerning.

Government directive from Alberta’s health minister reveals ‘enhanced role’ with AHS contracts

New evidence from a government directive shows Health Minister Adriana LaGrange removed Alberta Health Service’s power to negotiate contracts for private surgical facilities after the agency’s then-CEO pointed out internal concerns over high-priced contracts.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[daftandbarmy]

Unfortunately the original article in paywalled.

I’m not up to speed on this one; this CTV article seems to give a good rundown though. At first glance, it’s concerning.

Government directive from Alberta’s health minister reveals ‘enhanced role’ with AHS contracts

New evidence from a government directive shows Health Minister Adriana LaGrange removed Alberta Health Service’s power to negotiate contracts for private surgical facilities after the agency’s then-CEO pointed out internal concerns over high-priced contracts.

www.ctvnews.ca

The title sums things up nicely...

Bell: Danielle Smith was flying high — then the crap hit the fan​

Premier Danielle Smith gets great news from a new poll on the same day as potentially explosive allegations of wrongdoing by the UCP government

 

[MilEME09]

The title sums things up nicely...

Bell: Danielle Smith was flying high — then the crap hit the fan​

Premier Danielle Smith gets great news from a new poll on the same day as potentially explosive allegations of wrongdoing by the UCP government

Or this

David Staples: Smith gets black eye in fight with medical establishment

If there are corrupt government officials or actions, they need to be identified.

edmontonjournal.com

 

[daftandbarmy]

And now the lawsuits...

Former AHS CEO's lawsuit alleges pressure to sign private surgery deals she believed were overpriced​

The former CEO of Alberta Health Services has filed a $1.7-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit against AHS and the province.

Athana Mentzelopoulos claims she was fired because she'd launched an investigation and forensic audit into various contracts and was reassessing deals she had concluded were overpriced with private surgical companies she said had links to government officials.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/former-ahs-ceo-alleges-wrongful-dismissal-lawsuit-1.7457785

 

[Blackadder1916]

And now the lawsuits...

Former AHS CEO's lawsuit alleges pressure to sign private surgery deals she believed were overpriced​

The former CEO of Alberta Health Services has filed a $1.7-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit against AHS and the province.

Athana Mentzelopoulos claims she was fired because she'd launched an investigation and forensic audit into various contracts and was reassessing deals she had concluded were overpriced with private surgical companies she said had links to government officials.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/former-ahs-ceo-alleges-wrongful-dismissal-lawsuit-1.7457785

My favourite comment from Staples' opinion piece in the Edmonton Journal.

David Staples: Smith gets black eye in fight with medical establishment

If there are corrupt government officials or actions, they need to be identified.

edmontonjournal.com

"11. A top AHS executive getting the boot is hardly unusual. They have about the same shelf life as NHL coaches. Since 2008 there has been more AHS CEOs, 12, than there has been Edmonton Oilers coaches, 11."

For a summary of AHS CEOs past . . .

No joke! We counted: Alberta Health Services has had 12 chief executive officers since 2008! - Alberta Politics

Message to Alberta Health Services’ new interim chief executive officer and to whomever follows him as CEO: “Don’t let the revolving door hit you on the way out!” How many chief executive officers has AHS had since premier Ed Stelmach’s Progressive Conservative Government promised in 2008 to...

albertapolitics.ca

 

[MilEME09]

And now the lawsuits...

Former AHS CEO's lawsuit alleges pressure to sign private surgery deals she believed were overpriced​

The former CEO of Alberta Health Services has filed a $1.7-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit against AHS and the province.

Athana Mentzelopoulos claims she was fired because she'd launched an investigation and forensic audit into various contracts and was reassessing deals she had concluded were overpriced with private surgical companies she said had links to government officials.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/former-ahs-ceo-alleges-wrongful-dismissal-lawsuit-1.7457785

This little part was great

 

[MilEME09]

next up in the scandal, 26 million dollar for medication hospitals were told not to use 2 weeks earlier, so why did we pay?

AHS made $28-million prepayment for imported drugs two weeks after telling hospitals not to use them

AHS issued a prepayment in July of 2023 that was in part for Parol imported from Turkey that it told hospitals not to use over safety issues

edmontonjournal.com

 

[MilEME09]

Now calls within the UCP cabinet for the health minister to step aside

Alberta cabinet minister calls for health minister to be removed amid scandal

One of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet ministers is calling for Health Minister Adriana LaGrange to be moved out after allegations of high-level corruption surrounding contracts.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[MilEME09]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1893024720725123556

 

[Blackadder1916]

At least one Alberta (former) cabinet minister puts ethics above party.

Breaking: Alberta Infrastructure Minister resigns

Peter Guthrie, Alberta Infrastructure Minister, has resigned from his position.

www.airdriecityview.com

. . .
In his letter of resignation, he cited that he feels a lack of confidence in the government's procurement practices.

The United Conservative Party MLA for Airdrie-Cochrane, Guthrie wrote, "in recent months, I have voiced concerns regarding the Government of Alberta's procurement practices across all departments," Guthrie wrote.

"As Minister of Infrastructure, I had line of sight into these processes and took steps to address inconsistencies and recommend improvements as part of my fiduciary duty. This included introducing Bill 13 and proposing a Financial Oversight Committee to review and advise on major government contracts.

"If implemented, such a committee could have been instrumental in preventing some of the issues we are not seeing in Alberta Health and AHS. Unfortunately, the majority of Cabinet does not appear to share my concerns.

 

[MilEME09]

At least one Alberta (former) cabinet minister puts ethics above party.

Breaking: Alberta Infrastructure Minister resigns

Peter Guthrie, Alberta Infrastructure Minister, has resigned from his position.

www.airdriecityview.com

Heres the letter, he posted it on X, basically reads like "I tried to fix it, and was told no"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1894420758790901876

 

[GK .Dundas]

Heres the letter, he posted it on X, basically reads like "I tried to fix it, and was told no"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1894420758790901876

Ouch !

 

[Blackadder1916]

For info; the statement of claim filed by the fired CEO of AHS.

https://thetyee.ca/Documents/2025/02/23/AthanaMentzelopoulosLawsuit.pdf

 

[Halifax Tar]

If it wasn't for you folks, I would have no idea this was going on in Alberta.

 

[Remius]

If it wasn't for you folks, I would have no idea this was going on in Alberta.

Careful. Alberta doesn’t like being ignored.

 

[daftandbarmy]

If it wasn't for you folks, I would have no idea this was going on in Alberta.

No need to insult people like that

 

[OldSolduer]

Careful. Alberta doesn’t like being ignored.

It surely does not. If Alberta were a person he/she would be a boisterous individual you cannot ignore.

 

[MilEME09]

another voice of dissent from the UCP caucus, Redford resigned when 5 MLA's threatened to resign, are we seeing the begin of the fall of the UCP?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1896657500730265987