Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[aaronck]

Copy & pasted from a Reddit thread- the full Globe and Mail article- this is the second story about this with names of people high up in the AHS purchasing dept- they mention "Jitendra Prasad working in procurement"
He was Executive Director of CPSM, which is contracting/ Purchasing and logistics dept of AHS-as high up as you can get.



Premier Danielle Smith’s government dismissed the head of Alberta Health Services two days before she was scheduled to meet with the province’s Auditor-General to discuss her investigation into procurement contracts and deals for private surgical facilities, according to a letter obtained by The Globe and Mail.

The letter also alleges that the Premier’s then-chief of staff interfered in AHS contract negotiations.

Alberta terminated Athana Mentzelopoulos as AHS’s chief executive on Jan. 8, replacing her with Andre Tremblay, the deputy minister of health. Ms. Mentzelopoulos, in a lengthy letter from her lawyer to AHS’s interim general counsel on Jan. 20, alleges that she was fired because she launched “an internal investigation and forensic audit” into AHS’s contracts and procurement processes.

AHS’s operations came under scrutiny after The Globe reported that members of Alberta’s government received gifts from a company that imported generic pain medication from Turkey for the health authority.

The Office of the Auditor-General, in a statement to The Globe, confirmed it is aware of allegations of questionable procurement practices but declined to comment further.

The AHS board, after Ms. Mentzelopoulos provided an update on her investigation in December, recommended that she take her findings to the RCMP, the letter alleges. The government dismissed the board Jan. 31.

Ms. Mentzelopoulos investigated AHS’s relationship and contracts with MHCare, the company that facilitated Alberta’s $75-million deal to import generic children’s pain medication from Turkey in 2022, and its owner Sam Mraiche. She also dug into AHS’s chartered surgical facilities (CSFs) and their contracts.

In her letter, she alleges that she faced pressure to sign new deals for chartered surgical facilities, including an extension for a provider known as Alberta Surgical Group (ASG). CSFs are private outfits that perform operations paid for by the government as part of the public health care system.

“Throughout 2024, Mentzelopoulos had been repeatedly subject to interference and pressure from various Government of Alberta officials – including the Premier’s then-Chief of Staff, Marshall Smith – to sign off on commitments for the new CSFs, and approve a contract extension for ASG, despite significant concerns within AHS around the true ownership and potential costs of the CSFs, and concerns over the significantly increased costs of a proposed new ASG contract,” the Jan. 20 letter alleges.

Ms. Mentzelopoulos’s letter said that she prepared a 44-page briefing note outlining her interactions with government and is prepared to sue for wrongful dismissal. She is demanding Alberta pay her roughly $1.7-million, which is what she would have made had she been permitted to serve out the rest of her contract.

Ms. Mentzelopoulos alleges that senior government officials, including Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, were aware of problems she uncovered at AHS. According to the letter, the health department on Dec. 23 instructed Ms. Mentzelopoulos to wind up her investigation and turn over the files to the government.

A spokeswoman for Ms. LaGrange directed a request for comment to AHS. The Premier’s Office did not acknowledge a request for comment. Mr. Smith, who left the Premier’s Office in early October, did not acknowledge requests for comment.

AHS spokeswoman Holly Budd provided a statement attributed to Mr. Tremblay and Andrea Beckwith-Ferraton, the health authority’s lawyer.

“Alberta Health Services does not comment on internal resource matters,” it said.

Ms. Mentzelopoulos was not available for comment and the law firm that sent her letter to AHS did not acknowledge messages seeking comment.

Alberta named Ms. Mentzelopoulos AHS chief executive in December, 2023, as part of Ms. Smith’s continuing plan to shake up the organization and trim costs. Ms. Mentzelopoulos previously served as the executive director of the Alberta Medical Association, and as Alberta’s deputy minister of finance.

The former AHS CEO said Mr. Tremblay, who was also an AHS board member prior to the government dismissing all directors, fired her over Zoom.

“He did so because Mentzelopoulos had authorized an internal investigation and forensic audit into various AHS contracts and AHS procurement processes, including contracts with private health care providers and suppliers,” Ms. Mentzelopoulos’s letter alleges, “and had supported a proper due diligence assessment and costings for contracts with several private surgical facilities whose principals were connected to various Government officials,”

Cheryl Schneider, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Auditor-General, said the watchdog is aware of Ms. Mentzelopoulos’s concerns.

“We are aware of allegations relating to procurement. At this time, we are not making any further public comment,” Ms. Schneider said in a statement.

Ms. Mentzelopoulos updated the AHS board on her investigation and audit on Dec. 19, according to her letter. The board then recommended expanding the investigation and audit and that Ms. Mentzelopoulos consider taking the information she uncovered to the RCMP, according to the letter.

The Globe in July reported that Mr. Mraiche, the owner of MHCare, provided luxury tickets to NHL games to multiple cabinet ministers and members of Ms. Smith’s staff in 2024 and 2023. The United Conservative Party government in 2023 eased provincial ethics rules to make it easier for politicians and staff members to accept gifts.

Mr. Mraiche did not acknowledge messages seeking comment. One of his lawyers would not comment without viewing Ms. Mentzelopoulos’s letter.

AHS’s internal review revealed that the health authority has purchased about $614-million in supplies and services from MHCare and companies associated with Mr. Mraiche, Ms. Mentzelopoulos’s letter said.

The investigation also revealed that Jitendra Prasad, who worked in procurement for AHS, had an e-mail account with MHCare during part of the time he worked for the health authority, the letter alleges, including when he was negotiating the contract to buy Turkish pain medication. Mr. Prasad did not acknowledge messages seeking comment.

Alberta only received about 30 per cent of the children’s medication order and, despite paying upfront, it is unlikely to receive the outstanding medicine. AHS stopped using the supply for safety reasons.

The letter tied Mr. Smith to Mr. Prasad, and alleges that Mr. Prasad “appeared” to be retained or engaged by people involved with chartered surgical facilities and AHS procurement contracts while also providing advice and services to Alberta Health and AHS for those same contracts. Ms. Mentzelopoulos also alleges that Mr. Smith, the premier’s former chief of staff, appeared to make calls on behalf of private surgical organizations.

“The efforts by government officials to increase prices being paid to private suppliers ran contrary to her extensive experience in government negotiations,” Ms. Mentzelopoulos’s letter alleges. Ms. Mentzelopoulos alleges that Alberta Surgical Group received better rates than comparable private companies and that AHS was potentially paying for services it was not using. The letter said she had concerns about the proposed new rates for ASG and paused negotiations.

ASG did not acknowledge a message seeking comment.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Torture

If we lived in normal times this would be enough for a Premier to resign.

If we lived in Japan this would be enough for...

(of course this vile behaviour would never get this far)

[Fuzz]

Ms. Mentzelopoulos alleges that senior government officials, including Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, were aware of problems she uncovered at AHS. According to the letter, the health department on Dec. 23 instructed Ms. Mentzelopoulos to wind up her investigation and turn over the files to the government.

Yes, just, uh, tun over those files to the people you are investigating. We'll take it from here. Totally cool democracy in action stuff. Checks and balances.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

All my O&G bros are passing along the Jordan Peterson Alberta video. Good grief.

In case anyone hasn't seen it, Jordan in his infinite wisdom, makes a case for Alberta to be a state. Not trying to be an ass but this seems to be going exactly as I feared.

Peterson is a traitor.

[puffnstuff]

UCP running for election...we want transparency in government! Cost savings! Efficiency!

UCP in government...No, not like that.Youre fired! Youre all fired!

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

In case anyone hasn't seen it, Jordan in his infinite wisdom, makes a case for Alberta to be a state. Not trying to be an ass but this seems to be going exactly as I feared.

Peterson is a traitor.

Hang him from the gates of Coutts, as a warning to all other traitors.

[RogerWilco]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Hang him from the gates of Coutts, as a warning to all other traitors.

I have been hearing all these radio commercials for a Jordan Peterson event at the Saddle Dome. I'm amazed that he could sell enough tickets for this to be in the dome. Is he really that popular?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by RogerWilco

I have been hearing all these radio commercials for a Jordan Peterson event at the Saddle Dome. I'm amazed that he could sell enough tickets for this to be in the dome. Is he really that popular?

There isn’t. He’s selling tickets for 3/4 of the lower bowl only and with six days left 70% of the tickets are still available.

[Monahammer]

We should stone him or something. Get real medieval with him since that's his preferred world view.

[puffnstuff]

Does he float? He might be a witch. Burn him!

[kevman]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Low income people are currently being subsidized to the point where their daycare costs are under $200 or even $0. They will now be paying $325 for full-time care. Doesn't seem like that much but if you're low income and have three daycare-aged kids suddenly you go from paying nothing (or nearly nothing) to paying $1000 a month. That's significant.

Higher income people who aren't currently receiving subsidy will also pay $325 a month. At the moment we pay $1100 a month for one child and we will now be paying under 30% of that. I don't think that's equitable or right.

I don't think it's that easy though.

Yes, some people were no longer paying day care fees. If they got the max subsidy of $266, a full grant of $626, and their day care only charged $892 they would not be paying anything. But day cares that charged less than a grand before any grants and subsidies are hard to find and in very limited areas.

There are a lot of low income areas in the city that are not close to these "free" day cares. The concept of trying to level fees across all areas of the province is not necessarily a bad policy. Even at $325 it's a heavy discount from where things were a few years ago for everyone. I do however think they could have found a way to maintain the subsidy.

Honestly, at this point they may as well just make day care free for everyone like public school. They're already covering 80%, what's the last 20%?

Side note, the optimist in me sees this as an opportunity for some of those cheaper day cares to try and improve a bit. 18 month and younger kids need a 3:1 ratio. In the example above, if you're paying $900/month for a kid less than 18 months, that's only $2,700 per caregiver. After paying that care giver a minimum wage of $2,400/month there is nothing left for supplies, rent, maintenance, etc.

Side note two, is anyone else curious what kind of inflationary pressures we might see from this? There are a lot of families that will have $500-$2,000+/month more to spend soon. But I guess that's always been one of the policy drivers, less money spent on day care is more money injected into other areas of the economy.

[puffnstuff]

Alberta's Auditor General confirms he's examining the "Procurement and Contracting Processes at the Department of Health and AHS", focused on "Chartered Surgical Facilities, Medication (ibuprofen or acetaminophen), and COVID-19 Personal Protection Equipment.”

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Alberta's Auditor General confirms he's examining the "Procurement and Contracting Processes at the Department of Health and AHS", focused on "Chartered Surgical Facilities, Medication (ibuprofen or acetaminophen), and COVID-19 Personal Protection Equipment.”

Friday 4pm GoA news release "The office of the Auditor General has been dismissed. All future reviews to be handled directly by Rob Anders."

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Friday 4pm GoA news release "The office of the Auditor General has been dismissed. All future reviews to be handled directly by Rob Anders."

When reached for comment, Rob Anders was found to be asleep.

[Fuzz]

https://bsky.app/profile/ctheriault..../3lhjyea2slc2v

Wait, are you suggesting they'd be lying? Nooo, that's not like them at all.

[woob]

We need a citizen watch type panel within government, whereby if citizens have a legitimate concern, they can put forth a request for the panel to initiate an investigation. The panel then reaches out to RCMP or what not to assist with investigation.

I don't think you want the citzens voting on who should be in the panel but maybe it can be a handful of societies/organizaitons that elect who sits on the panel. Legal members, medical members, teachers, etc. It is recognized that this panel can request any all information in an investigation (presuming it doesn't threaten provincial/national security) and the investigation continues until complete. Government cannot deny requests, remove the panel, etc. etc.

It's crazy that once a government is in power, citizens seem to have less and less means to hold them accountable, investigate things, and enforce removal of members if it's deemed they broke laws, were fraudulent, etc.

Edit: I realize this would be ripe for abuse, but there could be a threshold? The panel essentially agrees if a request has merit or if its a clear partisan or fluff attempt at derailing an initiative people don't agree with.

[calgarygeologist]

We trust the Auditor General to be independent, right?

[curves2000]

A lot of this fraud was predicted from before, it happens everywhere in Canada at all levels no matter who is in charge. Anybody remember how I brought up the children cancer center for proton therapy being built privately in Edmonton as opposed to Calgary's Cancer center? Crickets. Same thing. Tens of millions of dollars being funneled to existing MLA investors and rich guy's in Florida.

Problem is nobody in Canada get's upset enough with this type of stuff. Nobody ever wants to hold anybody accountable and people love arguing the little thing. There is zero control anywhere in Canada and when I bring up fraud, flat out theft and corruption people always say its baseless. This is literally happening right in front of us and we are all to blame.

Good on other countries who decide to hang their government officials in public squares every once in a while. A reminder to the elected that people are watching.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by curves2000

A lot of this fraud was predicted from before, it happens everywhere in Canada at all levels no matter who is in charge. Anybody remember how I brought up the children cancer center for proton therapy being built privately in Edmonton as opposed to Calgary's Cancer center? Crickets. Same thing. Tens of millions of dollars being funneled to existing MLA investors and rich guy's in Florida.

Problem is nobody in Canada get's upset enough with this type of stuff. Nobody ever wants to hold anybody accountable and people love arguing the little thing. There is zero control anywhere in Canada and when I bring up fraud, flat out theft and corruption people always say its baseless. This is literally happening right in front of us and we are all to blame.

Good on other countries who decide to hang their government officials in public squares every once in a while. A reminder to the elected that people are watching.

Man am I tired of people trotting out this platitude like it makes them seem insightful.

No, we are not all to blame. That’s an easy way to say “I don’t do anything about it” but there are plenty of people (even those who risk their jobs) who do. People who actively vote against these people (unlike yourself).

Not every politician does this. Not every party is like this. Not every government runs like this. And not every person is to blame for this.

It’s time people stop the generic hand waving and lame platitudes and actually hold people accountable. Of the common people to blame, conservatives in Alberta are responsible. Figure your #### out, grow up, and stop voting for and defending these idiots.

[Doctorfever]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Man am I tired of people trotting out this platitude like it makes them seem insightful.

No, we are not all to blame. That’s an easy way to say “I don’t do anything about it” but there are plenty of people (even those who risk their jobs) who do. People who actively vote against these people (unlike yourself).

Not every politician does this. Not even party is like this. Not every government runs like this. And not every person is to blame for this.

It’s time people stop the genetic hand waving and lame platitudes and actually hold people accountable. Of the common people to blame, conservatives in Alberta are responsible. Figure your #### out, grow up, and stop voting for and defending these idiots.

I agree that fraud and corruption should be an automatic “not voting for this party next time”. It has no place in our government.

This goes for municipal, provincial, and federal.