Alberta government to release report into health contract scandal in ‘a few days’

EDMONTON — Alberta’s government says it received Wednesday the final report from the investigation into allegations of corruption over health contracts, but it won’t be immediately released.

Former Manitoba judge Raymond Wyant was hired in March to review multimillion-dollar contracts for children’s medication and for surgeries by for-profit providers.

Premier Danielle Smith said Albertans could expect to see the report “in a few days.”

“Within days we want to be able to show the public what the judge found,” Smith said.

Her government later clarified it would be released after it was reviewed.

Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the delay is just the latest that points to a coverup by the United Conservative Party government.

He demanded the government immediately release the report without edits.

“Why does the government need to review something that the public paid for and deserves to have answers for?” he asked.

Wyant was to determine whether any staff with the Health Ministry, Alberta Health Services or companies involved in the contracts properly disclosed and dealt with any potential conflicts of interest.

The allegations stemmed from a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed earlier this year by the former head of AHS, Athana Mentzelopoulos.

The lawsuit — still working its way through the courts — also sparked investigations by the RCMP and Alberta’s auditor general. Both said Wednesday their investigations are ongoing.

Smith said Mounties have not contacted her or anyone in her office in the course of their investigation.

She said because Wyant is a former judge, he should be able to offer an opinion about whether any actions rose to the level of criminal misconduct.

“He’ll be able to articulate where he thinks the problems were and what we can do to solve them. So, I’m looking forward to seeing that report, digesting the recommendations,” Smith said.

Mentzelopoulos alleges in her lawsuit that individuals high in government interfered in overpriced deals for private surgical companies and medical suppliers while she was in the job.

The allegations have not been tested in court.

Smith’s government has denied any wrongdoing. It has claimed Mentzelopoulos was fired for poor job performance and for stalling Alberta’s plan to address wait times by shifting more publicly funded surgeries to private providers.

The report was initially due June 30. The province said it extended the deadline because of the number of documents involved and interviews Wyant wanted to do.

The NDP has said Wyant’s strict marching orders would prevent him from getting to the bottom of the scandal.

Nenshi continued to call for a full public inquiry that could subpoena witnesses and compel testimony.

“The only reason that a government would refuse to call a public inquiry on the largest scandal in its history is if they’ve got something to hide,” he said.

He added that hundreds of millions of dollars have been “wasted” on the health contracts under scrutiny.

Wyant was given a budget of $500,000 to do the work, including to retain legal and audit help. He was to be paid $31,900 per month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2025.

—With files from Jack Farrell