The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Alberta has officially launched an investigation into allegations of corruption within Alberta Health Services (AHS), a development confirmed by RCMP Alberta with Public Interest Alberta. The investigation, which follows a formal complaint filed in February, centers around allegations related to procurement practices at AHS. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the RCMP has refrained from divulging additional details at this point.
These proceedings come in the wake of a lawsuit filed by Athana Mentzelopolous, the former CEO of AHS, who is seeking CAD 1.7 million in damages for alleged wrongful dismissal. Mentzelopolous’ lawsuit claims that her dismissal was prompted by her probes into possibly inflated contracts for surgeries at private clinics, and she has accused the government of improper interference with health services procurement. Her claim can be read in further detail through her allegations.
Alberta’s Premier, Danielle Smith, has acknowledged these serious allegations but assured in a statement on social media that she is unaware of any corrupt activities involving AHS. Premier Smith has also instructed the provincial auditor to expedite the assessment of the corruption claims, as Alberta Health Services halts the contracting for surgical facilities currently under investigation.
In parallel, the Alberta government has tasked Raymond Wyant, the former chief judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba, with leading an inquiry into the accusations against AHS. Expected to be complete by June 2025, Wyant’s investigation will include a meeting with the Premier to discuss future steps following the release of his findings, outlined here.
Nonetheless, some skepticism surrounds the scope and fairness of Wyant’s investigation due to perceived limits imposed by the Premier’s mandate. This has prompted Public Interest Alberta to call for RCMP intervention under the Public Inquiries Act, which could enable broader investigative powers. For more on the RCMP’s involvement and the context of these developments, please visit the original coverage on JURIST.