Former Alberta cabinet minister calls government health contract probe ‘whitewashing’

Apr 24, 2025 | 1:34 PM

A former Alberta cabinet minister says an investigation called by Premier Danielle Smith’s government into multimillion-dollar health contracts looks like a “whitewashing” exercise.

Peter Guthrie, now an Independent member of the legislature, says in a public letter, that among other problems, the terms of the third-party probe are so narrow that it will be tough to get to the heart of what happened.

Guthrie quit Smith’s cabinet and was later expelled from the governing United Conservative caucus over his public concerns about the contracts.

The former head of Alberta Health Services is suing the government, saying she was fired for investigating allegations of political meddling and questionable costs in the contracts.

The government disagrees, saying Athana Menztelopoulos was fired because she was failing in her job and was hindering health reforms.

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The premier’s office says Guthrie is entitled to voice his opinions, but says it has faith in the investigation now underway by former Manitoba judge Raymond Wyant.

Naheed Nenshi, Leader of Alberta’s New Democrats, issued the following statement in response:

“Mr. Guthrie’s letter to his constituents is confirmation of just how unethical and incompetent this government is. It shows the Smith government is desperately trying to cover up the CorruptCare scandal, they have no idea about fiscal competence, and they are wasting money all over the place. It also confirms Smith is dangerously flirting with Alberta separatism to gain a political advantage for herself. Albertans deserve way better than that. Every MLA should be allowed to do their job on behalf of Albertans. Mr. Guthrie is correct. We need a public, judicial inquiry into the CorruptCare scandal, now.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2025.

(With files from rdnewsNOW)

by The Canadian Press

Former Alberta cabinet minister calls government health contract probe ‘whitewashing’

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