Alberta hires former judge for third-party review of health spending scandal

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith addresses party members at the UCP annual meeting in Red Deer, Alta., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

By CityNews Staff

Posted March 3, 2025 4:18 pm.

Alberta’s government has selected a former Manitoba judge to be the third-party who will review irregularities in medical contracts amid an ongoing healthcare scandal.

The honourable Raymond E Wyant, former chief judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba, will be leading the investigation stemming from a lawsuit from the former CEO of Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Wyant was appointed to the Manitoba bench in 1998 before becoming chief judge in 2002.

He’s been handed a $500,000 budget to undertake the review and will be paid $31,900 a month. He will operate independently of the government, according to the province.

The lawsuit from former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos alleges high-level government officials interfered to secure overpriced deals for private health contractors.

Smith said last week her government wants to know if something went wrong with the procurement process at Alberta Health Services, the front-line provincial health authority.

Alberta’s auditor general, Doug Wylie, is also looking into contracting and procurement at the authority and Health ministry.

Wyant is to deliver an interim report by the end of May and a finalized version by June 30.

With files from The Canadian Press

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