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Alberta Minister Resigns Amid Procurement Concerns
Peter Guthrie, Alberta’s Minister of Infrastructure, has stepped down from his cabinet position, expressing serious reservations about the procurement practices employed by the Government of Alberta across various departments.
In a letter directed to his constituents, shared via social media, Guthrie confirmed his resignation from cabinet, stating he would continue to serve as a private member of the government caucus. This transition allows him to maintain his commitment to accountability within the government, which he emphasized would be conducted with “honesty and integrity.”
As the minister overseeing infrastructure, Guthrie indicated that he had direct insight into the provincial government’s procurement practices. He highlighted what he perceived as significant irregularities and mentioned that he had suggested enhancements designed to avert some of the issues that have escalated into recent scandals, including allegations of corruption associated with the United Conservative Party (UCP) government.
Recent Developments
Guthrie’s resignation follows closely on the heels of a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed by Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former head of Alberta Health Services. This lawsuit claims that she was terminated in retaliation for investigating claims of undue government intervention and evaluating a series of questionable multi-million-dollar contracts.
In support of these claims, documents from Alberta Health Services indicate that a private surgical company implicated in the ongoing controversy was charging the public significantly more per procedure than what would be expected in a provincial hospital setting.
Despite the allegations, Premier Danielle Smith and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange have both publicly rejected any allegations of misconduct and asserted that the dismissal of Mentzelopoulos was not connected to her inquiries.
Calls for Accountability
The legal disputes and allegations of corruption have not yet been adjudicated in court, and no formal statements of defense have been filed to date. In light of these concerns, the Alberta NDP has been vocal in its demands for a publicly led judicial inquiry into the claims surrounding the procurement practices, a request that the premier has not acquiesced to thus far.
…More developments are expected.
Source
globalnews.ca