Alberta Premier Danielle Smith maintains that she has not found evidence of wrongdoing at Alberta Health Services (AHS) despite recent allegations of conflicts of interest. Smith supports an investigation by the auditor general into procurement practices at AHS.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stated she has not encountered any evidence of misconduct at Alberta Health Services (AHS) despite allegations of conflicts of interest within the provincial health authority. Speaking from Washington on Tuesday, Smith informed reporters that she supports an investigation by Alberta's auditor general into the procurement and allocation of contracts by AHS.
Smith revealed that she first became aware of the allegations following the publication of a report in The Globe and Mail last week. She emphasized her continued confidence in Alberta's health minister, Adriana LaGrange, and expressed anticipation for the completion of the investigation.'We've been requesting for eight months for any — as I understand it from my health minister — for any indication of wrongdoing,' Smith stated. 'We've not seen any. So I think we have to see if there's any wrongdoing first, and if there is, then we have to clean it up.'Premier calls for prompt action by Alberta's auditor general into health spending, contracting Alberta's auditor general, Doug Wylie, has initiated an investigation into procurement and contracting processes within the province's health authority to address 'concerns or allegations related to contracting and potential conflicts of interest.' Wylie announced the review last week after AHS's former CEO alleged political interference within the agency. The probe commenced days before The Globe and Mail reported on a letter from the lawyer of Athana Mentzelopoulos, who was dismissed as AHS's chief executive officer one year into a four-year term. Mentzelopoulos asserted that she had been terminated days before she was scheduled to meet with the auditor general to discuss her own investigation into procurement contracts and deals for private surgical facilities.Mentzelopoulos also claimed that the province exerted pressure on her to renew surgical contracts. CBC News has reviewed the letter that Mentzelopoulos sent to AHS and verified its contents. Mentzelopoulos has refrained from commenting on her claims. Smith characterized the allegations as troubling and stated that she would request Wylie's office to expedite the review. On Tuesday, Smith affirmed that provincial government officials continue to collaborate with the ongoing probe. 'We've already set up a shared file so that they can get all of the documents that we have to see if there is any wrongdoing.' In a statement on Saturday, Smith indicated that she would also urge AHS to finalize its internal review of the allegations as swiftly as possible. An independent third party will be engaged to assist in the internal review being conducted by AHS. Pending the delivery of the findings, AHS has suspended the contracting for the surgical facilities under review. Smith, who is in Washington D.C. with other premiers this week to advocate against the threat of tariffs, is expected to return to Alberta on Thursday.
ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES CONFLICTS OF INTEREST PROCUREMENT INVESTIGATIONS PREMIER SMITH ATHANA MENTZELOPOULOS
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