Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi is calling for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and others to "step aside" in the wake of controversy at Alberta Health Services (AHS), with an Alberta senator-elect is pushing back along with the province.
AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos was dismissed on January 8 shortly before she was scheduled to meet with the auditor-general to discuss her investigation into AHS contracts and procurement processes.
She alleges her termination was due to probing into questionable contracts, including those with private surgical facilities.
The entire AHS board was fired on January 31, following Mentzelopoulos providing an update on her investigation, which the board recommended taking to the RCMP for scrutiny.
There are allegations of corruption, conflict of interest, and government interference in AHS contract negotiations.
Mentzelopoulos's lawyer sent a letter to AHS alleging she was pressured to sign contracts without proper due diligence, particularly concerning private surgical facilities, say media reports.
"So, this is what I'm calling for today, three investigations — by the RCMP, by the auditor- general and by the ethics commissioner," said Nenshi in a video posted to social media.
"And I am calling for a judicial led public inquiry into this matter. The premier, the minister of health, the minister of mental health and addiction and all named employees in these allegations must step aside."
Erika Barootes, department head for Applied Politics and Public Affairs at MaKami College told the Western Standard it isn't Nenshi's role to call for an RCMP investigation rather than due process within the province's internal system — which is already happening.
"It's not the job of the leader of the opposition to scream about something like that unless he has some information where he is approaching the RCMP," said Barootes, who is also an Alberta senator-elect.
"But that's for the RCMP to decide, not the leader of the official opposition."
Nenshi said the allegations related to AHS are the most shocking he has ever seen.
"Danielle Smith's government fired the AHS CEO and then fired the board," he said.
"The report alleges that this firing happened after the CEO and the board of AHS started to look into the legality around contracts for private surgeries that could enrich companies that had very, very strong ties to the UCP government and staff."
Nenshi added, "They did all of this with your tax dollars. The board was so concerned about this that they suggested the CEO take the information to the RCMP for criminal investigation. The CEO was fired two days before a meeting with the auditor general to talk about what was going on."
Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange's office released a statement denying the allegations, saying the firing of Mentzelopoulos was part of the province's health-care restructuring plan and not due to her investigation into procurement decisions.
The UCP emphasized the changes, including the dismissal of the AHS board and CEO, were part of a broader strategy to refocus the health-care system. They say the restructuring is aimed at improving service delivery, reducing wait times, and enhancing patient care.
The province says it welcomes the investigation by the auditor-general and will cooperate.
"The interpretation that (Mentzelopoulos's) termination was due to AHS’s review of certain procurement decisions is false," said LaGrange’s office.