Alberta Cabinet Member Calls on Danielle Smith to Dismiss Health Minister

Alberta Minister Urges Premier to Remove Health Minister Amid AHS Controversy

A United Conservative Party (UCP) cabinet minister is calling on Premier Danielle Smith to remove Health Minister Adriana LaGrange as investigations continue into serious allegations raised by a former Alberta Health Services (AHS) CEO, CBC News has learned.

Infrastructure Minister Peter Guthrie sent a memo to cabinet colleagues on Thursday, urging swift action and recommending that any potential criminal matters be referred to the RCMP. CBC News obtained a copy of the memo and verified its authenticity with a source familiar with its contents.

Allegations of Misconduct in AHS Contracts

The controversy stems from claims made by former AHS executive Athana Mentzelopoulos, who alleges she was dismissed for investigating conflicts of interest and questionable costs in AHS contracts. These include deals with private surgical facilities and a medical supplier involved in a $70-million procurement of children’s medicine from Turkey.

Mentzelopoulos formalized her allegations in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed this week, though the claims have not yet been tested in court.

Guthrie’s Call for Immediate Action

In his memo, Guthrie outlined five urgent recommendations, including:

• Removing Andre Tremblay as AHS CEO and Deputy Health Minister until an investigation is complete.
• Reassigning Health Minister Adriana LaGrange to another ministry during the inquiry.
• Supporting the Auditor General’s probe and ensuring access to a third-party forensic audit referenced in Mentzelopoulos’s lawsuit.
• Handing over any evidence of criminal wrongdoing to the RCMP without delay.

Guthrie emphasized that decisive action was necessary, writing, “It is my strong recommendation that we do not hesitate any longer and implement these recommendations today.”

Premier Smith Stands by Health Minister

Despite Guthrie’s appeal, Premier Smith signaled in a statement to CBC News on Friday that she has no plans to remove LaGrange.

“I have full confidence in the health minister to continue her important work in refocusing and reforming our health system,” Smith stated.

She also reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting Auditor General Doug Wylie’s investigation. However, she did not address whether the forensic audit referenced in the lawsuit would be released.

Smith has tasked a senior civil servant with hiring an external firm to independently investigate potential misconduct in AHS procurement processes and whether concerns raised by Mentzelopoulos were properly addressed.

Calls for Accountability Grow

Before Guthrie’s memo became public, LaGrange had already faced mounting calls for her resignation from the opposition NDP, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, and healthcare advocacy groups like Friends of Medicare.

LaGrange has vowed to respond to the allegations, stating that “some claims made are clearly false, while others will need to be investigated further.”

While some ministers have defended LaGrange’s continued role, others stress the need for transparency. Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz told reporters that while stability in health care is crucial, accountability is equally important, saying, “That’s why Minister LaGrange and Premier Smith have asked the auditor general to look into this.”

Meanwhile, Premier Smith maintains she was unaware of the AHS concerns until media reports surfaced on February 5. Mentzelopoulos had reportedly scheduled a briefing with the Auditor General’s office for January 10, but she was dismissed just two days before the meeting.

As investigations continue, questions remain about the extent of government involvement in AHS procurement decisions and the future of key officials involved in the unfolding controversy.