Former AHS head alleges procurement interference by AB govt officials

NDP leader Nahid Nenshi requests investigations by the RCMP, auditor general, and ethics commissioner

In a story first broken by The Globe and Mail, it’s alleged that former AHS head Athana Mentzelopoulos was let go only two days before she was to meet with the Auditor-General to discuss an investigation she’d been performing in to contracts for medical procurement and surgical facilities.  Interference by Danielle Smith’s former chief of staff is alleged.

After hearing a preliminary version of her report, it’s further alleged that the AHS board had recommended that she take the information to the RCMP.  Ms. Mentzelopoulos was fired January 8th – the board was dismissed later that same month.

The article quotes Ms Mentzelopoulos’ letter:

Throughout 2024, Mentzelopoulos had been repeatedly subject to interference and pressure from various Government of Alberta officials – including the Premier’s then-Chief of Staff, Marshall Smith – to sign off on commitments for the new CSFs, and approve a contract extension for ASG, despite significant concerns within AHS around the true ownership and potential costs of the CSFs, and concerns over the significantly increased costs of a proposed new ASG contract

Letter from Athana Mentzelopoulos, via The Globe and Mail article

(Non-subscription links for the story include The Edmonton Journal, CBC, and an opinion column at the Calgary Herald.)

NDP leader Nahid Nenshi released a statement calling for an RCMP investigation and independent judicial public inquiry, along with having the ministers involved step aside to avoid political interference in the investigations.

Danielle Smith denies wrongdoing in a statement on Twitter where she calls for a non-public AHS internal review.