The MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills 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 own government pressuring the former CEO of Alberta Health Services when it comes to contract procurement.
Nathan Cooper points out that it is important that the Auditor General has complete access to all of the information that he needs to make his independent assessment on what was going on and what happened with that procurement process. He says “I have full confidence that the Auditor General has that ability as an independent office of the legislature, at arms length from the government, 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 – who is also the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta – 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 “kick back” scheme involving inflated contracts with private surgical companies, as well as threats to wrap up internal investigation of the practices.
During her press conference Wednesday, Smith noted while she has asked the Auditor General to speed up the investigation, AHS, and AHS alone were 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 wrong doing 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 there is different prices 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 on in the dual role of CEO of Alberta Health Services and its official administrator.
With files from Michael Lumsden, Vista Radio.
