Government, health authority seek injunction against former Alberta Health Services CEO
A judge from the Court of King’s Bench in Alberta has recently heard arguments regarding the province’s request to compel Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former CEO of Alberta Health Services, to delete work emails she sent to her private account just before being terminated from her position. The Alberta government and Alberta Health Services claim that these emails contain confidential information belonging to AHS and are seeking an injunction to prevent Mentzelopoulos from sharing this material.
During the court proceedings, lawyers representing the government argued that Mentzelopoulos violated her employment contract by forwarding the emails to her personal account. They also alleged that she has avoided cross-examination regarding the information she shared with others. The government is seeking to compel Mentzelopoulos to reveal who she has already shared the information with.
Mentzelopoulos filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit earlier this year, claiming that she lost her job in part because she was conducting investigations and audits related to contracts involving the Alberta Surgical Group and the procurement of medical supplies. The government and AHS have denied these allegations.
The judge has reserved her decision on the injunction request, which is connected to Mentzelopoulos’ lawsuit against her former employer and Alberta’s health minister. The government is also interested in cross-examining Mentzelopoulos to gain insight into what information she shared with the Alberta auditor general and the RCMP.
Mentzelopoulos’ allegations regarding AHS procurement and contracting have led to investigations by the Alberta auditor general and the RCMP. The government has appointed a former provincial court judge from Manitoba to look into AHS contracting practices as well.
In response to Mentzelopoulos’ claims, Edmonton medical supply company MHCare sent a letter to the deputy minister of Jobs, Economy, and Trade, expressing concerns about the allegations made against them. The letter addressed various issues raised in Mentzelopoulos’ statement of claim, including accusations of inflated rates and failures to fulfill a medication import contract.
MHCare clarified that regulatory delays caused by Health Canada impacted their ability to fulfill the medication contract and provided updates to AHS and Alberta Health throughout the process. The company also addressed allegations regarding CEO Sam Mraiche’s relationships with government officials, emphasizing that he complies with established guidelines for dealings with public office holders.
The letter from MHCare seeks to set the record straight and defend the company’s integrity amid the ongoing legal proceedings involving Mentzelopoulos and AHS. The judge is expected to make a decision on the injunction request in the coming days.
