Conflict of interest was clear, says report on scandal
By Lethbridge Herald on October 18, 2025.
Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A final report from former Manitoba judge Raymond Wyant reviewing allegations of corruption within Alberta Health and AHS for the deals for pain medication and private surgical providers has been released.
The report confirms two staffers, Jitendra Prasad and Blayne Iskew, were in “real or perceived” conflicts of interest but no steps were taken by senior health officials.
“Both Mr. Prasad and Mr. Iskiew were in real or perceived conflicts of interest which were widely known by many people at AHS and yet no steps were taken by senior officials to deal with the situation with either person,” the report states.
In the report, Wyant says he found no evidence of wrongdoing on Premier Danielle Smith’s part, her ministers or other political staff. However, he adds that because his investigation wasn’t a public inquiry, he didn’t have the power to hear testimony under oath. As a result, people were allowed to decline to be interviewed or answer any questions.
He said he felt many tried to tell the truth, but he got the impression some weren’t providing “complete information.” Wyant interviewed 26 people for his investigation, including a businessman at the heart of some of the allegations, as well as Iskiew and Prasad.
But the premier, her chief of staff or any ministers, including the former health minister, were not among those interviewed.
“This demonstrates the need for having processes that would allow people to bring matters such as this to the attention of others without fear,” said Wyant.
Smith’s government ordered the investigation in March, following allegations of corruption contained in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit of Athana Mentzelopoulos, former chief executive officer of AHS.
Sarah Hoffman, the Opposition shadow minister of health, says the report left many unanswered questions and a public inquiry should be done to get to the bottom of the situation.
“We need to make sure we act in the public interest through a public inquiry to get to the bottom of it, it doesn’t answer the questions of why the former CEO and AHS board were fired.”
She adds that Smith stating she’s been cleared of any wrongdoing is not accurate and the only way to get the full truth is to have a public inquiry.
While there is also an independent investigation being done by the RCMP, Rakhi Pancholi, deputy leader of the NDP, says it won’t be enough because the auditor general has a mandated scope.
Wyant also wrote in the report that because it was not a public inquiry, his investigation did not include the kind of vigorous examination and cross examination which happens in a public inquiry
While there is also an independent investigation being done by the RCMP, Rakhi Pancholi, deputy leader of the NDP, says it won’t be enough because it won’t be dine in the public eye.
The report included 18 recommendations for the government’s consideration related to procurement policies, codes of conduct, legal oversight and conflict of interest rules.
Smith said she is directing former Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee to work with all impacted ministries and the new health procurement secretariat to implement the recommendations as quickly as possible.
“This will include the accelerated implementation of the Activity-Based Funding model for surgical service that will see a standard, non-negotiated fee paid to providers for each completed surgery.”
She claims this will increase transparency going forward.
– With CP files
21-20
Oooohhh Nooooo! Who are the NDP going to hang on the gallows they built for the Premier?
So the Premier’s decision to fire Athana Mentzelopoulos, then chief executive officer of AHS was warranted! The conflict of interests were well known and the leadership, which included Mentzelopoulos failed to perform the duties necessary in this conflict of interest.
I remember demands from the NDP for the Premier to resign!
Is there any coercion between the NDP and the teacher’s strike? Perhaps that should be investigated!!!
right off the bat we get an entry that is clueless as to what article and the investigation allude.
despite the headline underscoring that what amounts to graft and sleaze are entirely obvious, the entry somehow invokes the ndp (and why not, seeing as the ndp are the ucp fanbase go-to for blaming everything sleazy and inept perpetrated by present ucp and prior post loughheed, con named govts in alberta).
as for the firing of mentzelopoulos, that had to do with coming forth as a whistleblower. now, i know, ucp types that see ucp graft and sleaze and ineptitude as badges of honour think whistleblowers are the issue and should be prosecuted and jailed.
moreover, the ridiculous slant of the entry should further acknowledge that the manitoba judge was entirely limited in the breadth and scope of what and whom were permitted to be investigated. as such, the ucp used this expense as more of a charade by which to whitewash and absolve those of whom should have been thoroughly investigated and held to account.
Ah yes, and more proof that the NDP lynch mob will not even accept facts and truth!
“graft and sleaze and ineptitude as badges of honour”
That would be the NDP not the UCP! I have never seen so many people grouped together in one party who are so ill informed and like sheep, willing the drink the kool-aide of disinformation and misinformation spread by NDP or a group of people full of anger and hate!
It is odd that you call people clueless, but you fail to understanding that Athana Mentzelopoulos, was the chief executive officer of AHS and should have been aware of the issues as they unfolded. That is why she was paid to be in that position and she failed to perform her duties!
Nenshi and all of his henchmen demanded investigations and you got an unbiased, reputable person to perform that investigation to see if it warranted more actions. But we all know it was just an attempt to bring down the government! That is the NDP’s primary mission! Bring down the government! We would have a better province if the NDP stuck to its official duties!
“The role of the opposition is to criticize government activity, hold the government accountable, propose improvements and present itself to the public as an alternative to the party in office.”
It is not there to constantly try to bring down the government! That only creates chaos and the public suffers, the economy suffers, and Alberta suffers.
We are still trying to recover from NDP mistakes which have cost the province hundreds of millions of tax dollars from the safe sonsumption sites-harm reduction programs! That also caused high levels of stress on the healthcare system!