National

Alberta's auditor general granted extra $1M for health procurement probe

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Jun, 2025 09:23 AM

Alberta's auditor general has been granted his request for nearly $1 million in extra funding to dig deeper into allegations of corruption in private health care contracts.

Auditor general Doug Wylie says the scope and complexity of the probe means his office needs to hire additional help and cover legal costs.

Members from both the United Conservative Party government and Opposition NDP who sit on the legislature committee that approved the request say Wylie is doing important work.

His investigation began earlier this year as a result of allegations made by the former head of Alberta Health Services, the provincial health authority.

Athana Mentzelopoulos is suing the government for wrongful dismissal, claiming she faced political interference on the job and was fired for looking into overpriced contracts.

The allegations have yet to be tested in court and the province has denied any wrongdoing, claiming instead that Mentzelopoulos was fired for poor job performance.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Slower B.C. real estate sales blamed on U.S. tariff uncertainty, association says

The British Columbia Real Estate Association says tariff uncertainty has slowed housing activity. A board report says there were 4,947 residential sales in the province last month, down 9.7 per cent from the same time last year.

Slower B.C. real estate sales blamed on U.S. tariff uncertainty, association says

Explainer: What's a recession and why is rising anxiety about it roiling markets?

Stock markets are plunging, consumers and businesses have started to sour on the economy, and economists are marking down their estimates for growth this year, with some even seeing rising odds of a recession. The tech-heavy Nasdaq stock index slipped into a correction last week, defined as a 10% drop from its most recent peak. The broader S&P 500 neared that level Tuesday.

Explainer: What's a recession and why is rising anxiety about it roiling markets?

Poilievre wants to impose 50 per cent metal tariffs on U.S. after latest Trump threat

Trump says he will double the steel and aluminum tariffs he promised to deploy on Canadian products tomorrow — to 50 per cent — in response to Ontario's 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S. Trump originally vowed to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.

Poilievre wants to impose 50 per cent metal tariffs on U.S. after latest Trump threat

Confused about tariff deadlines? Here's what we know right now

The trade war between the U.S. and Canada took another turn Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to double the tariff on steel and aluminum imports coming from Canada in response to Ontario's surcharge on electricity exports. Trump said 50 per cent tariffs will be placed on Canadian steel and aluminum starting Wednesday, up from the 25 per cent tariffs that had been expected to apply to those materials.

Confused about tariff deadlines? Here's what we know right now

PM-designate Carney demands respect from U.S. as Trump doubles tariffs

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney says he will keep Canadian retaliatory tariffs in place until "Americans show us respect" and commit to free trade again. Carney is reacting after U.S. President Donald Trump moved today to double incoming tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, which Carney calls an attack on Canadian workers and businesses.

PM-designate Carney demands respect from U.S. as Trump doubles tariffs

Doctors thrust into COVID-19 celebrity reflect on backlash, threats and Thank You letters

Doctors who were thrust into national fame when COVID-19 hit five years ago say they try to focus on positive feedback from the public rather than the angry backlash and threats of violence they faced. British Columbia public health chief Dr. Bonnie Henry still has a security detail to this day because of threats against her and her family from people angry about lockdowns or opposed to COVID vaccination.