Lavish expense claims chase Allaudin Merali out of AHS

[Dion]

Alberta Health Services’ financial boss has resigned as it was revealed he’d racked up an exorbitant $346,000 in expenses.

The move was announced Wednesday ahead of a media outlet revealing information that AHS CFO Allaudin Merali had spent the $346,000 in 146 filings in a role with the Capital Health Authority from 2005-2008.

In Ontario, Merali’s bills climbed to an average of $76,000 a month in January through March 2009, including $24,000 for flights between Edmonton and Toronto.

Those expenses fuelled a considerable scandal in that province.

In 2008, he expensed $1,839 at the Edmonton Mayfair Golf Club with no explanation for the AHS.

In a statement, Health Minister Fred Horne said he supports Merali’s departure, saying it’s needed to ensure Albertans’ confidence in their medical system.

“I am concerned, and I understand why Albertans would be concerned, about these expense claims,” he said.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/08/01...ali-out-of-ahs

[Dion]

A step in the right direction....

"I am concerned, and I understand why Albertans would be concerned, about these expense claims," Horne said. "While travel and hosting expenses can be part of regular business, institutions such as AHS are funded by taxpayers' dollars and, as such, taxpayers rightly expect accountability.

"I am satisfied with the action that has been taken today, and I support the decision by AHS to ask the auditor general to validate their current processes and their commitment to make public all future expense claims of executive officials."

"I have been assured by AHS that policies and processes that are in place today are far more stringent than what was in place under the former Capital Health Authority."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...es-merali.html

[Ben_in_Canada]

In all fairness he didn't really break any rules in making those claims, he just really abused the system.
I am glad that they are making these guys accountable.

[mykalberta]

Sounds like they have no system for expense approval.

1800 at a golf course with no reason in 2008 and it was allowed to go through?

[Northendzone]

with crap like this going on and the cost overrruns at the new calgary south hospital, it is no wonder that our health system is in a mess.......where is the common sense.

i'd further assume that at the golf club, he was likely entertaining a bunch of other folks who all made $200k or more......

[mykalberta]

I am sure there is a reason, I guess the question is should AHS be entertaining anyone? They dont sell anything, they purchase, he should be getting taken out to lavish golf events not paying for them.

[First Lady]

Fred Horne will be on QR this morning. I hope they ask why this guy was even hired in the first place.

[Ozy_Flame]

How do idiots like this even get into positions like this in the first place. What is this, back-scratching central?

[Rhettzky]

What do you expect? This guy to take ride coach and take the greyhound everywhere?

[Rathji]

I am curious, because I really have no idea, what a normal or acceptable amount of expenses would be for such a position.

[First Lady]

I'm predict Sheila Weatherill (who authorized the expenses) will be stepping down by days end.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Abusing the expense account is nothing new, but how did they not look at his history and maybe think to themselves "This guy seems to be systematically abusing the system" before they hired him?

[GP_Matt]

I don't want to defend him, but if an expense account is abused shouldn't most of the fault lie in the person who approved the expenses? Assuming of course that they were filled out truthfully.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Abusing the expense account is nothing new, but how did they not look at his history and maybe think to themselves "This guy seems to be systematically abusing the system" before they hired him?

The only reason this came to light is because CBC put in a FOIP request.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...es-merali.html

They rehired him in May 2012; a quick Google search shows he was subject to questionable expenses while with Ontario Ehealth. --- Who doesn't Google new hires nowadays?

[burn_this_city]

The fact he was making roughly $500k and expensing $2 muffins shows how pathetically cheap he is.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Who doesn't Google new hires nowadays?

Seriously quoted for truth. Many employers are always looking at prospective employees Facebook pages and Twitter accounts. Why wouldn't the government do the same?

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

with crap like this going on and the cost overrruns at the new calgary south hospital, it is no wonder that our health system is in a mess.......where is the common sense.

i'd further assume that at the golf club, he was likely entertaining a bunch of other folks who all made $200k or more......

I think it is opening later than scheduled and in phases, but last I heard, it was supposed to be on budget.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by First Lady

I'm predict Sheila Weatherill (who authorized the expenses) will be stepping down by days end.

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

I don't want to defend him, but if an expense account is abused shouldn't most of the fault lie in the person who approved the expenses? Assuming of course that they were filled out truthfully.

Haa... just saw on Twitter, she in fact resigned last night.

[crazy_eoj]

Just another example of the PC culture of entitlement. Not very surprising.

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by fotze

As for the inevitable private sector over expensing by executives. It is abhorrent there as well.

Wasn't that part of the reason that Conrad Black went to jail?

I don't remember his actual charges, but I know his expense account was a big part of his trial.

I wonder how much a person has to abuse their expense account before it goes from allowing them to resign to demanding the money be returned to actual criminal charges.