Bell: Big allegations — Danielle Smith, come out, come out wherever you are​on February 8, 2025 at 12:51 am

We have questions. We have no answers.

It is said we will hear from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

Next Saturday. On her radio show.

That’s Feb. 15. This column is being written Feb.7.

All this scribbler wanted from the premier was something seen as simple, under normal circumstances.

Just tell us the story is not true. Just react to these allegations. Tell us something.

What I was asking for was exactly what the premier asked the government of the day when she was the leader of the opposition Wildrose and those in power faced allegations of wrongdoing.

And these allegations in The Globe and Mail, if true, are worse than anything connected to former premier Alison Redford and her government flights and her plans for a taxpayer-funded Skypalace, self-entitled behaviour leading her to exit the province’s job saying mistakes were made.

Besides, in the past, Smith has never been shy in taking on stories she considered false or unfair or needing more probing.

What are the allegations or at least the slimmed-down version?

Alberta Health Services boss Athana Mentzelopoulos investigates AHS contracts and purchasing practices.

When she tells the AHS board about what she’s found they tell her to go to the RCMP.

Two days before the AHS boss is set to meet the province’s financial watchdog to talk about what she has found she is fired.

So goes the allegation.

The AHS boss, now out the door, sends a letter to the AHS board.

It is a lengthy letter and alleges many things.

Like government officials, including Smith’s then right-hand man Marshall Smith, putting pressure on the AHS to sign deals for private surgical facilities despite concerns around the amounts of the contracts and questions around the ownership.

Also alleged.

Senior Smith government officials, including Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, were aware of what the AHS boss uncovered and the health department told her to wind up her investigation and give the government the files.

The now-punted AHS boss also says she investigated the relationship and contracts with MHCare.

MHCare and companies affiliated with Sam Mraiche have done $600 million-plus in business with AHS.

Those are the people importing generic pain medication from Turkey for the province’s health authority and, for those who paid attention, that’s a whole other story.