NDP light fire under UCP over AHS controversy while Smith attends to Canada-US relations in DC

The Alberta NDP lit a fire under the UCP on Wednesday over an alleged scandal at Alberta Health Services — calling for Premier Danielle Smith and others to "step aside" to allow for an independent investigation into "corrupt" health services contracts.

The NDP's flame, struck in the confined space of little evidence, may soon run out of oxygen as Smith and the UCP attend to the dumpster fire of Canada-U.S. relations and possible economic fallout.

Smith and other premiers met with American officials in Washington DC on Wednesday to discuss trade. Smith was criticized by the NDP for being away.

Alberta NDP MLAs Sarah Hoffman and Deputy Leader Rakhi Pancholi spoke with media in Edmonton, saying the allegations against the UCP involve the firing of a CEO and board members at Alberta Health Services (AHS) over concerns about $614 million in contracts allegedly given to "friends and insiders."

Alberta's auditor general is investigating. The NDP wants RCMP involvement.

Hoffman and Pancholi called for transparency, accountability, and an independent judicial inquiry, criticizing the UCP for self-investigation and conflict of interest.

Hoffman and Pancholi called out healthcare problems — hundreds of thousands of Albertans lack a family doctor and many wait for surgeries.

They demanded Smith and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange step aside during the investigation and for the legislature to reconvene for public scrutiny.

"Danielle Smith has two deputy premiers, and either one of those individuals should be able to step in and act for the premier while this investigation is going on," said Pancholi.

"Certainly, same thing with the minister of health, there's other competent ministers who can stand up and answer questions and be able to make decisions while this is happening."

The province announced plans to dismantle the current structure of AHS, which was the province's centralized health authority. The move aims to reorganize health service delivery into four entities — Acute Care, Primary Care, Continuing Care and Mental Health and Addiction Services.

In a statement, LaGrange's office said the recent changes to AHS leadership were made to ensure a proper transition without impacting patient care as AHS is transformed from Alberta’s health care system administrator to being solely a provider of health care services under Alberta’s new Acute Care Agency.

"This is evidenced by the fact that since learning of potential concerns with CSF procurement, Alberta’s government repeatedly asked AHS for documentation to substantiate the concerns that were raised."

LaGrange's office added, "It was extremely concerning that no substantive information and documentation had been provided to the government after nearly 8 months of requesting it, and that is why Minister Adriana LaGrange issued a directive in December to compel AHS to share all details related to CSF contracts and contracting with Alberta Health."

"This was not about shutting down the review AHS had started; to the contrary, it was about understanding whether there was actual evidence of the problems raised by the former CEO of AHS, or whether AHS management was simply attempting to disrupt the growth of CSFs in the health system."