After the former, and recently fired, Alberta Health Services CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos’s allegations that there was wrongdoing in procurement deals and private surgical contracts, there was a lot of back-and-forth Saturday between the Alberta UCP government and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).
Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement in response to allegations around AHS procurement and contracting processes:
“I have read various media stories containing allegations regarding the procurement and contracting processes of AHS. They are troubling allegations and they should be reviewed as quickly as possible.
“To that end, I will be writing Auditor General Doug Wylie to ask for an expedited review and his findings on this issue. I have also directed my officials to ensure that any request for information from Mr. Wylie or his office is dealt with on a fully transparent and expedited basis. We need to get to the bottom of this issue quickly to identify any potential wrongdoing, correct it, and address it appropriately.
“I have also asked that AHS’s internal review be completed as quickly as possible and delivered directly to me so we can study the results and make improvements or adjustments to these processes. Until these findings are delivered, AHS has paused the contracting for the surgical facilities under review.
“As Premier, I was not involved in any wrongdoing. Any insinuation to the contrary is false, baseless and defamatory.
“It’s no secret I have been unhappy with the level and quality of service delivered by AHS and in the inability of AHS to deliver quality and timely healthcare to Albertans. I will continue to relentlessly push forward to make improvements. Although that has required difficult decisions and major change, I do not accept the current results. There is a widespread and deep-seated resistance to change that we must overcome.
“That’s my goal: better healthcare for all.”
AUPE calling for premier, health minister resignations amidst corruption allegation
Members of Alberta’s largest public sector union are disappointed with the premier’s response to serious allegations of backroom deals and inappropriate procurement practices in the province’s health ministry.
AUPE Vice-President Curtis Jackson says whether Premier Danielle Smith wants to acknowledge it or not, her actions and the actions of her government to privatize our health care system is what has led them down this road.
Jackson says this is why it is so important to maintain publicly delivered healthcare because contracting and privatization only seeks to make a profit. When people come second to profit, transparency and accountability – this is what you get.
“The premier knows she is on thin ice and cannot simply say she is not involved when she has publicly defended accepting the Oilers tickets – and attending the games – which is the entire basis of the alleged corruption and bribery scandal,” Jackson says. "The shady deals in which private interests seek to profit off of public health care must end. Publicly delivered health care is transparent and accountable and is the health care Canadians are proud of."
More than 82,000 AUPE members are in active negotiations with the government, fighting for fair wages, benefits, job security and better working conditions. The premier’s lack of accountability and transparency is a slap in the face of every working Albertans who is working short and burning out to keep delivering quality public services.
“Our members continue to focus on giving Albertans their very best in public health care facilities across the province. AUPE will continue to demand better contracts for health care workers at the bargaining table where contract negotiation belongs and not in luxury boxes at hockey games,” Jackson said.
In light of the allegations and the government’s response, AUPE members rallied in solidarity with other public sector workers outside Health Minister Adriana LaGrange’s constituency office in Red Deer Feb. 8 to call for her resignation.