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COMMENTARY: Public inquiry may be needed for health contract procurement

Former Alberta Health Services CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos has alleged the UCP government engaged in conflicts of interest surrounding multimillion-dollar deals for health products and surgical procedures
opinion

By far Alberta’s most expensive and important government service, the health-care system and its operation is of great interest to residents in this region and provincewide.

As such, new allegations of political interference by the Smith UPC government into the investigation now underway regarding alleged corruption in the procurement of health contracts are of significant public concern.

Former Alberta Health Services CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos has alleged the UCP government engaged in conflicts of interest surrounding multi-million-dollar deals for health products and surgical procedures.

For her part, Premier Danielle Smith has proclaimed innocence in the matter. 

“As premier, I was not involved in any wrongdoing,” said Smith. “Any insinuation to the contrary is false, baseless and defamatory.”

In a letter issued recently, Metzelopolous said political interference may now be at work in the investigation initiative by Smith and headed by Judge Raymond Wyant.

“Premier Danielle Smith has repeatedly claimed that Judge Wyant’s work will be free of political interference. It appears that may not be the case,” Metzelopolous said.

The official Opposition says the current investigation is wholly inadequate and that a full public inquiry is needed into what government critics now call the CorruptCare scandal.

“While we respect the former justice (Wyant), it’s clear his work is being hampered and manipulated by this UCP government,” said NDP House Leader Christina Gray. “Albertans deserve to know the truth. Under the fake and limited inquiry set up by premier Smith, they will never get it.”

The Alberta Republican Party, headed by recent Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills byelection candidate Cam Davies, also says a public inquiry is needed.

“Albertans deserve the truth, and they won’t get it from a process shrouded in secrecy,” said Davies. “The integrity of our health-care system and democratic institutions is at stake. An independent judicial inquiry is the only credible path forward.”

If an independent inquiry – wholly outside the control of the Smith government – is needed to ensure public confidence in the multi-billion health-care system, it’s time may have arrived.

Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan.

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