Key Takeaways
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government has been under scrutiny for its connections to Edmonton businessman Sam Mraiche, whose company MHCare has been awarded over $600 million in contracts with Alberta Health Services.
- An investigation by The Globe and Mail found that Mr. Mraiche had extensive connections to the government, including attending a hotel suite with the Premier’s top lieutenants on election night.
- The Premier has denied any wrongdoing and pointed to her advisers when asked how Mr. Mraiche ended up in the hotel room.
- The opposition Alberta NDP is calling for a public inquiry into the controversy, citing the need for transparency and accountability.
- The government has referred to a report by a retired Manitoba judge that cleared it of wrongdoing, but the report noted that no elected officials were interviewed and that it was unable to make a "final and absolute determination" as to whether there was wrongful interference.
Introduction to the Controversy
The Alberta government has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding its connections to Edmonton businessman Sam Mraiche, whose company MHCare has been awarded over $600 million in contracts with Alberta Health Services. An investigation by The Globe and Mail found that Mr. Mraiche had extensive connections to the government, including attending a hotel suite with the Premier’s top lieutenants on election night. The Premier, Danielle Smith, has denied any wrongdoing and pointed to her advisers when asked how Mr. Mraiche ended up in the hotel room.
The Investigation and Its Findings
The investigation by The Globe and Mail found that Mr. Mraiche’s company, MHCare, had been awarded numerous contracts with Alberta Health Services, including a $614-million contract for medical supplies since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation also found that Mr. Mraiche had met with the Premier on several occasions, including a dinner meeting at his north Edmonton home in 2022. The Premier’s private calendar from her 2022 UCP leadership bid showed that she was scheduled to dine with Mr. Mraiche and later had a Zoom call with him and a former senior purchasing official with Alberta Health Services.
Government Response and Denials
The Premier and her government have denied any wrongdoing and have referred to a report by a retired Manitoba judge, Raymond Wyant, that cleared it of wrongdoing. However, the report noted that no elected officials were interviewed and that it was unable to make a "final and absolute determination" as to whether there was wrongful interference. The Premier has also stated that she has only seen Mr. Mraiche socially on a handful of occasions and that she has never discussed his business interests with him.
Opposition Calls for Public Inquiry
The opposition Alberta NDP has called for a public inquiry into the controversy, citing the need for transparency and accountability. The party has also asked the Justice Minister, Mickey Amery, whether he introduced Mr. Mraiche to the Premier. Mr. Amery has referred to the Wyant report and pinned responsibility for the procurement shortcomings on Alberta Health Services.
Ongoing Investigations
The controversy is being investigated by the Alberta Auditor-General, Doug Wylie, and the RCMP. Mr. Wylie has said that he is rushing to finish his investigation within the next six months after the government denied him a two-year term extension. The Premier has also stated that her government will soon require stronger conflict-of-interest checks.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The controversy surrounding the Alberta government’s connections to Sam Mraiche and his company MHCare has raised serious questions about transparency and accountability in government procurement practices. The opposition’s call for a public inquiry and the ongoing investigations by the Auditor-General and the RCMP will likely shed more light on the issue in the coming months. The Premier’s government has denied any wrongdoing, but the revelations have already led to calls for greater scrutiny of government procurement practices and stronger conflict-of-interest checks.
