News Summary

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Alberta have initiated a formal investigation into Alberta Health Services (AHS) following serious allegations of corruption, political interference, and conflicts of interest. These allegations were brought forward by Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former CEO of AHS, who claims she faced political pressure, including from Premier Danielle Smith’s office, to approve questionable multimillion-dollar contracts. Mentzelopoulos, who is currently suing the province for wrongful dismissal, alleged that she was terminated for investigating overpayments on contracts with private surgical providers. The lawsuit also points to potential misconduct involving government staff having ties to private suppliers, notably MHCare Medical, which secured a significant contract for children’s medication. Both Alberta’s auditor general and an independent government review led by former Manitoba provincial court head Raymond Wyant are also examining the contracts. Despite public denials of wrongdoing by the government, the investigation has prompted calls for a full public inquiry.