Alberta premier pledges to ‘clean’ up any wrongdoing amid ongoing health services probe

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has stated that she has not seen any evidence of wrongdoing at Alberta Health Services (AHS) amidst allegations of conflicts of interest within the provincial health authority. Speaking from Washington, Smith expressed her support for an investigation by Alberta’s auditor general into how contracts are procured and awarded by AHS.

Smith first became aware of the allegations when they were reported in The Globe and Mail last week. She reiterated her confidence in Alberta’s health minister, Adriana LaGrange, and emphasized the importance of completing the investigation.

“We’ve been asking for eight months for any indication of wrongdoing,” Smith said. “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.”

Alberta’s auditor general, Doug Wylie, initiated an investigation into procurement and contracting processes within the province’s health authority following concerns about potential conflicts of interest. This review was prompted by the former CEO of AHS, Athana Mentzelopoulos, who alleged political interference within the agency.

Mentzelopoulos claimed that she faced pressure and interference from government officials, including being dismissed shortly before a scheduled meeting with the auditor general to discuss her own investigation into procurement contracts for private surgical facilities. The province has denied these allegations and is cooperating with the ongoing probe.

In response to the allegations, Smith has urged AHS to expedite its internal review and has enlisted an independent third party to assist in the process. AHS has paused contracting for the surgical facilities under review until the findings are delivered.

The allegations have sparked criticism from health advocates and Alberta’s political opposition. The Alberta NDP has called for the immediate reconvening of the provincial legislature to address the issue under public scrutiny.

Smith, who is currently in Washington D.C. with other premiers campaigning against tariffs, is expected to return to Alberta on Thursday. The investigation into AHS’s procurement and contracting processes continues, with the goal of addressing any potential wrongdoing and restoring public trust in the health authority.