Nenshi says allegations in AHS lawsuit could constitute major scandal

By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 15, 2025.

Former chief executive officer of AHS, Athana Mentzelopoulos, has filed a $1.7-million lawsuit against the minister of health for wrongful dismissal after she was fired last month.
Naheed Nenshi, leader of the Alberta NDP party, says he has seen the filed claims in the lawsuit and he says it explains and expands on the allegations.
Nenshi points to the claims in the lawsuit alleging Mentzelopoulos faced political pressure to sign contracts that appeared to exceed the cost of what could be provided by AHS themselves.
The claim alleges Mentzelopoulos received significant pushback as she attempted to perform due diligence regarding the contracts and was ultimately fired in a Zoom meeting with Deputy Minister of Health Andre Tremblay.
Nenshi says while these claims have not been proven, if they are true it “ranks among the largest scandals ever faced by any government in the history of Canada.”
Premier Danielle Smith has come out saying she was unaware of what has been detailed in the allegations.
“If she knew about it, then the premier is complicit and needs to resign immediately,” says Nenshi. “If she didn’t know about it, that means the premier is incompetent and does not know what’s going on in her own government and her own office with the largest, by far, budget item.”
Nenshi adds that these allegations are serious enough that LaGrange should step down immediately.
“These allegations are so serious, the health minister needs to do the right, ethical thing and resign today, if she fails to resign today the premier has to fire her.”
Nenshi is also calling on those mentioned in the allegations to “step aside” until the investigation from the auditor-general is complete and they should not investigate themselves.
“People who are named in the allegations cannot investigate themselves and when the premier was saying that she wants the reports delivered directly to her; premier you’re implicated (11 times in the statement claim),” says Nenshi. “How stupid do you think Albertans are that you’re going to hide these reports that are delivered directly to someone who’s implicated in them?”
He also believes that the gag order on AHS board members need to be released, so Albertans can hear from them what happened.
Nenshi believes it is likely police will also investigate the situation, noting there is currently an auditor-general investigation underway.
“I have incredible faith in our police system, unlike this government that defunds the police at every turn,” says Nenshi. “I have faith in the police and I know that the RCMP would take serious allegations seriously.”
Nenshi says he questions the priority the premier is putting on health care, noting that a large percentage of the population in Lethbridge without a family doctor and no physicians accepting new patients in the last year.
“This is a very big problem and it just shows that Danielle Smith and the UCP not only take Albertans for granted they also take rural Albertans and Albertans in smaller cities for granted, they don’t focus on those issues at all,” says Nenshi. “They have no respect for health care workers, they’re not focused on getting those answers right.”

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