EDMONTON — Another investigative article from the Globe and Mail was posted last night, shining a light on even more potentially concerning connections between the provincial government and businessman Sam Mraiche.
The article states: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s former chief of staff lived in a $1.6-million Edmonton home owned by the sister of Sam Mraiche, a businessman whose dealings with the provincial health authority are subject to multiple investigations.
“Every day the information and allegations seem to get worse and worse. Albertans deserve a fully independent public inquiry with powers to subpoena, and a wide mandate to look into the entirety of this government’s health care procurements,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “At this point, anything less is unacceptable. The government needs to stop trying to sweep these very concerning allegations under the rug. The Premier needs to show Albertans her government is serious about transparency and accountability for how our public health care dollars are being used.”
Since being elected, the government has pursued an aggressive privatization agenda, including signing secretive contracts with for-profit health care providers to expand their role throughout our health care system, including surgeries, labs, addictions care, food services, laundry, ambulance services, and more. But rather than improving health care services and delivery as purported, health care privatization has continued to result in longer wait times and higher costs for Albertans.
“Under this government, Alberta has increasingly spent significant public health care dollars to subsidize the profits of private entities throughout our health care system – funds that could be better spent improving patient care,” said Gallaway. “Given the very serious allegations to date, Albertans have no reason to trust that it’s only a few procurement processes and contracts that need to be investigated.”
During this week’s cabinet shuffle, Adriana LaGrange was changed from minister of the entire health portfolio, to minister of primary and preventative health services, while Matt Jones, MLA for Calgary-South East, was named minister of hospital and surgical health services. But given information continues to mount suggesting interference allegations may go far beyond surgical contracting, this is far from enough to ease Albertans’ significant concerns.
“Adrianna LaGrange needs to be removed from cabinet, a real public inquiry needs to be called, and the Auditor General’s ongoing investigation should be expanded to review the procurement processes for all contracts given to for-profit health care providers,” said Gallaway. “And of course, any concerning evidence found should be shared with the RCMP immediately.”
“While Albertans are struggling to access the health care they need, the only solution ever offered by this government is more and more privatization. Albertans deserve nothing less than a full investigation to show conclusively whether the decisions about our health care are being made based on the best medical evidence, or corruption and backroom deals,” concluded Gallaway.
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