Bell: Danielle Smith’s government goes toe-to-toe with former AHS boss​on February 13, 2025 at 2:32 am

The gloves are off.

Ladies and gents, let’s get ready to rumble.

Gut-check time.

Some folks thought Premier Danielle Smith would run for cover as the story heated up and more questions were being asked.

On the contrary.

The Alberta government led by Smith is playing hardball.

They are not hiding under their beds curled up in the fetal position.

They are fighting back.

Such is their mood. Pretty pumped.

A $1.7-million lawsuit is filed Wednesday on behalf of the recently-punted Alberta Health Services boss Athana Mentzelopoulos.

The former AHS boss had been investigating contracts with publicly-funded private surgical facilities and she has made many allegations of wrongdoing.

Now, late Wednesday, there’s a statement of defence on the way from AHS and the Alberta government.

They want to challenge the allegations.

I’d like to quote former boxing champ Mike Tyson, who this scribbler sat down with in Vegas 30 years ago.

“Everybody has a plan until you get punched in the face.”

This is the plan.

Adriana LaGrange, the province’s health minister, says many of the allegations and claims made by the former head of AHS are “clearly false.”

Others, she says, will be investigated by the auditor general and the government’s internal review.

LaGrange says a detailed statement of defence will be filed “in short order” with the health minister and AHS as defendants.

“I very much look forward to doing so,” she says.

Once again, LaGrange says the former AHS boss was not bounced because of any investigations into contracts with private surgical facilities getting public dollars or any other cheque cutting by AHS.

LaGrange says any concerns will be looked at “to identify any potential wrongdoing or procurement process deficiencies.”

Round Two.

Marshall Smith, the premier’s former chief of staff, who is named in the lawsuit of the fired AHS boss, says allegations against him are “outrageous and false.”

“I am eager to meet with officials investigating this matter.”

As for the $1.7-million lawsuit, the former Alberta Health Services boss says she was fired because she was investigating private surgical facilities connected to various government officials.

Concerning private surgical facilities, the former AHS leader alleges she faced pressure from Marshall Smith.