News Summary

Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former CEO of Alberta Health Services (AHS), has filed a $1.7-million lawsuit against her former employer and the province, claiming wrongful dismissal. She alleges her termination was due to her investigations and forensic audits into procurement contracts with private surgical facilities, which she believed were overpriced. Mentzelopoulos claims she faced pressure from government officials, including Marshall Smith, the former chief of staff to Alberta’s premier, to sign these contracts despite concerns over increased costs. The lawsuit asserts that Health Minister Adriana LaGrange demanded her removal, leading to her termination on January 8, 2025. The government, however, maintains her dismissal was part of planned restructuring and unrelated to her investigations. The allegations have yet to be tested in court.