Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is embroiled in a healthcare scandal involving allegations of improper procurement practices and favoritism towards political allies. Former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos made explosive claims about pressure to approve overpriced contracts and potential corruption. The Premier denies any wrongdoing but faces mounting calls for a full RCMP investigation.
After four days of silence amidst a growing healthcare crisis, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith finally addressed the allegations swirling around her United Conservative Party government. While not explicitly stating she was innocent, her weekend statement left no doubt that she was denying any wrongdoing. It was a statement that, some might argue, went beyond mere denial, attempting to intimidate journalists investigating the scandal with veiled threats about legal repercussions.
This approach, coming after Ms. Smith's recent high-profile visits to President Trump, who is known for his aggressive stance against critical media, raises concerns about a potential attempt to stifle investigative reporting.The crisis stems from a series of bombshell accusations made by former Alberta Health Services (AHS) CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos. In a letter sent by her lawyer last month, Ms. Mentzelopoulos alleged improper procurement practices within the healthcare system, claiming that government officials, including Ms. Smith's then-chief of staff, pressured her to approve deals that favored friends of the UCP. These deals, she alleges, were overpriced compared to alternative options and benefited individuals like businessman Sam Mraiche, who has close ties to Ms. Smith's government, hosting senior advisors and cabinet members at exclusive Oilers games. Investigations further reveal that companies connected to Mr. Mraiche secured $614 million in contracts with AHS. Ms. Mentzelopoulos, a respected career bureaucrat, was fired two days before she was scheduled to meet with the Auditor-General to discuss her concerns. The AHS board, deeply concerned by her allegations, had urged her to report the matter to the RCMP. However, her dismissal prevented her from doing so. Premier Smith, in her statement, claims to have instructed her staff to fully cooperate with the ongoing Auditor-General investigation, led by Doug Wylie. She has requested a swift completion of the report. However, given the potential involvement of the Premier's office, many believe she should recuse herself from any influence on the investigation until its public release. Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has called for a wide-ranging inquiry, demanding RCMP involvement alongside the ongoing Auditor-General investigation. He emphasizes the need for sworn statements to ensure transparency and accountability. Former NDP leader Rachel Notley also dismisses Ms. Smith's claims of ignorance, pointing out that the AHS board and Ms. Mentzelopoulos were dismissed by order-in-council, a decision ultimately made by the cabinet, which the Premier chairs. Notley argues that unless Ms. Smith was completely unaware of the discussions surrounding these dismissals, she must have known the reasons behind them. She believes that given the potential for financial misconduct and corruption involving hundreds of millions of dollars, the RCMP should be brought in to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation. This scandal has already cast a long shadow over Ms. Smith's government, reminiscent of the downfall of former Progressive Conservative premier Alison Redford, who faced public outrage over government flight abuses and her personal real estate dealings. The gravity of the current allegations, which involve potential misuse of public funds and systemic corruption, makes the Redford affair seem almost trivial in comparison. Until these allegations are thoroughly investigated by independent and trustworthy third parties, the sword of Damocles will continue to hang over the Smith government, threatening its stability and legitimacy
ALBERTA POLITICS HEALTHCARE SCANDAL PREMIER INVESTIGATION CORRUPTION
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