Alberta Health Minister to File Defence on AHS Allegations

Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange makes a health-care announcement in Calgary on Dec. 21, 2023. Todd Korol/The Canadian Press

Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says she will file a statement of defence regarding allegations of government interference in medical contracts and procurement, saying many of the claims are false.

LaGrange made the comments in a Feb. 12 statement, in response to allegations of political interference made by former Alberta Health Services (AHS) chief executive officer Athana Mentzelopoulos.

Mentzelopoulos alleges she was pressured by Alberta government officials to sign new deals for private surgical centres, and that she was removed from her position on Jan. 8 because she had launched an internal investigation into AHS contracts and procurement practices.

Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has said that, if the allegations are true, it would be “the worst corruption Alberta has ever seen.”

The allegations, contained in a lawsuit filed by Mentzelopoulos this week, have not been tested in court.

LaGrange said that while some of the allegations warrant investigation, several of them are “clearly false.”

“Upon initial review, many of the allegations and claims made are clearly false, while others will need to be investigated further as part of the auditor general’s work and the Government’s internal review of this matter,” she said.

“As I am a named defendant in this claim, I will be filing a detailed statement of defence in short order. I very much look forward to doing so.”

Shortly after the allegations surfaced, Alberta Auditor General Doug Wylie on Feb. 6 announced a review of the procurement and contracting processes at the province’s Ministry of Health and AHS, citing concerns about “potential conflicts of interest.”

Wylie said the current investigation, which may extend to other organizations, pertains to chartered surgical facilities (CSFs), medication (ibuprofen or acetaminophen), and COVID-19 personal protection equipment. CSFs are private accredited entities that provide publicly funded surgeries to increase service access and reduce wait times.

Nenshi has called for an RCMP investigation into the case, as well as a public inquiry. “At minimum, the Premier and Health Minister must step aside to allow the investigations to occur without political interference,” Nenshi said in a Feb. 11 statement. “And if they want to resign, that should be on the table too.”

LaGrange said on Feb. 11. the province will have a third party review the allegations, but gave no further details.

“We are going to have an external party do it, and so I am looking forward to making information–as much as possible–public so that people know what’s going on,” LaGrange told reporters at the legislature on Feb. 11.

“People deserve to know what’s going on and we want to make sure that happens.”

Health Care Overhaul

LaGrange said Mentzelopoulos’ dismissal last month was part of a leadership restructuring tied to a previously announced overhaul of the health-care system that will see AHS transition from a provincial health authority to a hospital service provider.

“The changes had nothing to do with any investigations into chartered surgical facilities or other procurement by AHS as alleged,” LaGrange said.

Since November 2023, the Alberta government has been working to “refocus” its health-care system by creating four organizations, each dedicated to a specific health sector: primary care, acute care, assisted living, and recovery.

The new model, which will see AHS become a service provider under the acute care sector, will reduce wait times and improve access to health care, according to the Alberta government.

Citing the restructuring, the province on Jan. 31 dismissed the AHS board, marking the second time an AHS board was removed in recent years. The province appointed Deputy Health Minister Andre Tremblay as the single administrator to “oversee the successful completion of the system refocusing initiative at AHS while also ensuring the agency’s seamless transition to an acute care service provider and hospital operator.”

Tremblay also temporarily took over Mentzelopoulos’ role following her dismissal, while retaining his position as deputy health minister.

Premier Calls for Expedited Investigation

Premier Danielle Smith has denied any involvement in wrongdoing, and said she is “glad” the auditor general will look into the issue.

“If there’s wrongdoing, we'd like to get to the bottom of it,” Smith told reporters in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12. “And if there isn’t, we need to find out why AHS is standing in the way of chartered surgical centres.”

The premier previously said “it’s no secret” she has been “unhappy” with the quality of health service delivered by AHS.

When asked if she still had confidence in LaGrange, Smith replied in the affirmative.

A few days after the allegations surfaced, the premier requested the auditor general expedite his review. She also asked for the AHS review to be completed swiftly, with the results sent directly to her–a request Nenshi has criticized, arguing “the investigation can’t be delivered to the people being investigated.”

AHS previously told The Epoch Times it’s conducting an internal review into the former chief’s allegations and has paused awarding contracts to the surgical facilities involved in the meantime.

The RCMP has not yet launched an investigation, as it is awaiting guidance from the auditor general, who is currently reviewing the case, an RCMP spokesperson told The Epoch Times on Feb. 12. “If it’s deemed that the RCMP should investigate, we absolutely would,” the spokesperson said.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.