Alberta’s government announced the completion of an investigation into corruption allegations regarding health contracts, with the final report received on Wednesday. The report, conducted by former Manitoba judge Raymond Wyant, focuses on multimillion-dollar contracts for children’s medication and surgeries provided by for-profit entities. Premier Danielle Smith mentioned during a news conference that the report is yet to be delivered but assured Albertans that it will be made public in the coming days.
The investigation aimed to assess if staff from the health ministry, Alberta Health Services, or the involved companies properly disclosed and managed any potential conflicts of interest. The allegations originated from a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed by Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former head of AHS, earlier this year. The lawsuit prompted further investigations by the RCMP and Alberta’s auditor general, which are still ongoing without a specified completion timeline.
Premier Smith emphasized that no contact has been made by the RCMP during their investigation. She expressed anticipation for Wyant’s report, as his expertise as a former judge is expected to shed light on any potential criminal misconduct and provide recommendations for resolving the issues. The allegations made by Mentzelopoulos, including claims of government interference in expensive deals with private surgical companies and medical suppliers, have been refuted by the United Conservative Party government.
The completion of Wyant’s final report, initially due on June 30, was delayed due to the extensive documentation and interviews required. The Opposition NDP has criticized the investigation’s limitations and called for a comprehensive public inquiry into the alleged corruption scandal.