Aleberta’s Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, Nathan Cooper believes that it is really important to get to the bottom of some of the AHS contract allegations.
This week, Premier Danielle Smith reiterated her desire to see a quick, thorough investigation into allegations of, among other things, members of her government pressuring the former CEO of Alberta Health Services when it comes to contract procurement.
Cooper points out that the Auditor General must have complete access to all of the information needed to make an independent assessment of what was going on and what happened with that procurement process.
“I have full confidence that the Auditor General has that ability as an independent office of the legislature, at arm’s length from the government, and will be able to provide the information that I think is important. I think Albertans deserve it and I am pleased that the government is working collaboratively in providing all the information to the Auditor General that he requires.”
Cooper wants Albertans to be able to have confidence in the procurement process that both took place, as well as going forward that will take place.
The allegations, which have not been proven in court, claim what the complainant calls a government “kickback” scheme involving inflated contracts with private surgical companies, and threats to wrap up an internal investigation of the practices.
During her press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 19, Smith noted while she has asked the Auditor General to speed up the investigation, AHS, and AHS alone was in charge of conducting the procurement process.
Smith is standing by Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s Minister of Health, but stated “I don’t want to prejudge the outcome. I want to identify if there is any wrongdoing and if there is, there’ll be repercussions but we have to first understand if there is a reasonable explanation for why it is that different prices are being charged to different facilities for the same services.”
Darren Hedley has been appointed by cabinet as the province’s acting Deputy Minister of Health in place of Andre Tremblay. Hedley was most recently the government’s Associate Deputy Minister of Health. Tremblay is to continue in the dual role of CEO of Alberta Health Services and its official administrator.
With files from Michael Lumsden – Vista Radio.
