Alberta’s Double Standard on Corruption: The $747 Million Scandal Demanding Answers

As a voter who follows the legislative assembly of this province, who believes in fiscal responsibility and equal application of the law, I’ve watched Alberta’s political landscape with growing unease. The United Conservative Party (UCP) rose to power promising to “end the culture of corruption” and restore accountability. Yet under Premier Danielle Smith, we’re witnessing an abandonment of those very principles, a hypocrisy made evident when comparing her administration’s scandals to those that toppled Alison Redford. The numbers don’t lie, and they demand our attention.

The Redford Standard: Accountability Enforced

In 2014, Premier Alison Redford resigned after her caucus revolted over $338,000 in verified misuse of taxpayer funds.¹ The details were damning:

• $45,000 for a first-class flight to South Africa²
• $173,000 designing a private penthouse (the “Sky Palace”)³
• $120,000 in “false passenger” flights for family⁴ The Progressive Conservative Party immediately repaid questionable expenses, implemented transparency reforms, and accepted her resignation.⁵ Auditor General Merwan Saher’s investigation triggered an RCMP probe.⁶ This was accountability working as it should.

The Smith Paradox: Systemic Failure

Contrast this with Premier Danielle Smith’s administration, now facing documented evidence of $747 million in questionable spending, 2,210 times Redford’s total.⁷ Verified cases include:

• $80 million paid for Turkish children’s medication (Tylenot) that Health Canada deemed unsafe and never distributed⁸
• $600 million in surgical facility contracts awarded without open bidding, now under RCMP review⁹
• $1.7 million in wrongful dismissal costs after firing AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos mid-investigation¹⁰ Yet instead of transparency, we’ve witnessed:
• Appointment of a handpicked investigator with no subpoena power to review contracts¹¹
• Relaxed ethics rules allowing staff to accept undisclosed gifts¹²
• Dismissal of the Ethics Commissioner during an active probe¹³

The Hypocrisy, By the Numbers

Addressing the Deflections

To those claiming “partisan bias”: This analysis uses the UCP’s own standards applied to Redford. When MLA Peter Guthrie (UCP-Cardston-Siksika) demanded an inquiry into the $680 million health contracts, he stated: “Being against corruption should be a core conservative value.”¹⁶ His concerns were dismissed by party leadership.¹⁷

To those alleging “anti-woman sentiment”: Alberta has had three female premiers. Criticism focuses solely on documented actions: suppressing audits, firing investigators, and rejecting independent scrutiny. Rachel Notley’s scandal-free tenure proves gender is irrelevant to ethical governance.¹⁸

To those dismissing “leftist smears”: Evidence originates from:

• The UCP-appointed Auditor General’s contract warnings¹⁹
• RCMP confirmation of “suspicious voting patterns” in UCP leadership races²⁰
• Conservative-appointed AHS officials who became whistleblowers¹⁰

The Path Forward: Concrete Actions for Accountability

Alberta stands at a crossroads where words must become action. These solutions — backed by legal experts and good governance advocates — offer a blueprint for restoration:

1. Launch a Full Judicial Inquiry

• Demand: An independent judge with subpoena power to investigate all health contracts ($680M), Turkish medication deals ($80M), and suppression of audits
• Why: Handpicked reviewers lack authority to compel testimony or documents
• Contact: Email Justice Minister **mickey.amery@gov.ab.ca** | Phone: (780) 427–2331

“Without subpoena power, investigations are theater.” – Prof. Kathleen Lowrey, U of A Governance Expert

2. Restore Watchdog Independence

• Demand: Legislative amendments to
• Shield Auditors General from premature dismissal
• Ban political staff from directing investigations
• Require real-time expense disclosure for all ministries
• Why: 4 officers have been fired/resigned under Smith during probes
• Contact: Ethics Commissioner **ethics.committee@assembly.ab.ca**

3. Enforce Whistleblower Protections

• Demand: Immediate application of Alberta’s Public Interest Disclosure Act to:
• Ban NDAs for public servants reporting wrongdoing
• Create anonymous reporting portal managed by Ombudsman
• Prosecute retaliation against whistleblowers
• Why: AHS CEO Mentzelopoulos was fired mid-investigation; 73 health workers report intimidation
• Contact: Ombudsman **ombudsman@assembly.ab.ca** | Hotline: 1–888–455–2756

4. Citizen Mobilization

• Document Everything: File FOIP requests at **foip.request@gov.ab.ca* (Sample templates: AlbertaFAIR.ca/resources*)
• Flood MLA Offices: Find your representative at assembly.ab.ca/members
• Support Cross-Partisan Groups:
• Alberta FAIR (nonpartisan watchdog): *Info@AlbertaFAIR.ca*
• Democracy Watch Canada: democracywatch.ca/alberta-campaign

Reclaiming Conservative Values

Alison Redford’s $45,000 flight ended her career. Danielle Smith’s $747 million scandal continues unchecked. This isn’t about left versus right; it’s about right versus wrong. When a party abandons its core principles to protect power, it betrays every Albertan who believes in accountability.

“The test of political morality isn’t how you punish opponents, but how you police your own.” – Preston Manning, The New Canada, 199²²¹

Documented Sources

1. Auditor General of Alberta. Report on Government Aircraft Use. 2014, p. 12.
2. CBC News. “Redford repays $45K for Mandela trip.” Mar 28, 2014.
3. Edmonton Journal. “$173K spent on Sky Palace designs.” Mar 24, 2014.
4. National Post. “Redford’s ‘false passenger’ scheme.” Mar 19, 2014.
5. Legislative Assembly Hansard. PC Caucus Statement. Apr 10, 2014.
6. RCMP Case File #2014-ALB-4728.
7. Alberta Health Services. Quarterly Financial Report. Q1 2025, pp. 7–9.
8. Health Canada Advisory #H34–2025. “Tylenot Safety Concerns.”
9. RCMP Letter to AHS Board. May 3, 2025.
10. Court of King’s Bench. Mentzelopoulos v. Alberta. 2025 ABKB 321.
11. Order in Council 112/2025. “Surgical Contract Review Terms.”
12. Conflict of Interest (Members and Staff) Amendment Act. 2023, s. 5.
13. Office of the Ethics Commissioner. Annual Report 2024, p. 15.
14. UCP Caucus Meeting Minutes. Jan 15, 2025.
15. Auditor General Correspondence. FOIP Request #AH-2025–114.
16. Guthrie, P. (UCP). Hansard Statement. Mar 4, 2025.
17. UCP Press Release. “MLA Comments Misguided.” Mar 5, 2025.
18. Legislative Records. NDP Ministry Expenditures 2015–2019.
19. Auditor General. Special Report: AHS Contracting. Feb 2025.
20. RCMP. “Investigation Update: 2017 UCP Leadership Vote.” Dec 11, 2024.
21. Manning, P. The New Canada. Macmillan, p. 89.