Guthrie breaks with UCP caucus, calls for public inquiry into AHS corruption allegations

A United Conservative backbench MLA is breaking with caucus ranks and calling on the government to launch a judge-led public inquiry into allegations of corruption around procurement at Alberta Health Services (AHS) and accusing it of gagging him from speaking further.

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie was dropped from cabinet and issued a suspension from caucus in February after calling for Health Minister Adriana LaGrange to be moved to a new position while the six investigations, including from the auditor general and RCMP, into the AHS allegations are underway.

Article content

After leaving cabinet, he also told Postmedia that “something doesn’t sit right with me,” and “we should have core values, and being against corruption should be one of those.”

On Monday, he rose in the legislature to table a pair of columns published by Postmedia and called out the government on his prolonged caucus suspension.

“To properly represent my constituents, I cannot be held in perpetuity to a suspension from caucus, which comes with a gag order,” he said in the assembly.

“I am now at day 48 of my so-called 30-day suspension, impeding my democratic right to fully represent the people of Airdrie-Cochrane.”

Guthrie tabled a Postmedia column by three doctors seeking “one inquiry to rule them all,” noting the limits to the ongoing investigations and arguing that a public inquiry is the only way to get to the bottom of what happened.

He also tabled an April 11 column by Calgary Herald columnist Don Braid with the headline, “Government tries to deflect auditor general to lawyers — No way, says Auditor General Doug Wylie.”

Article content

Article content

The column notes recent revelations by the Opposition that Alberta Health told civil servants to direct queries from the auditor general’s office to its lawyers, something Wylie’s office described as “not a standard practice” while also contradicting statements by LaGrange that Wylie knew about the government involving its legal team.

Earlier Monday, Justice Minister Mickey Amery defended Alberta Health directing employees to go through its lawyers, insisting it was standard practice.

“What we were doing was we were establishing a single point of entry,” he said.

After tabling the columns, Guthrie told reporters inside the legislature that he agreed with the sentiment in both articles.

“If we have nothing to hide, we should take that path,” he said of a public inquiry.

He went on to describe the government’s approach to the auditor general’s investigation as “obstructionist.”

“I would like to see people feel free to be able to share their thoughts with the auditor general without feeling that there may be retribution for them.”

Article content

He said he used the tablings as a “clear way, or maybe a mechanism” to convey his message. Since leaving cabinet, he has sat in the legislature alongside UCP backbenchers.

Later on Monday, Guthrie voted with the Opposition New Democrats on a motion tabled by health critic Sarah Hoffman calling for a public inquiry into the allegations.

Former government MLA and current independent member Scott Sinclair also voted with the NDP on its motion. Sinclair was removed from the UCP caucus last month after speaking out against the provincial budget.

Hoffman’s motion was defeated 45-29.

On Monday evening, the UCP caucus said Guthrie remains a member and that it doesn’t comment on internal caucus matters. The premier’s office deferred to caucus for comment.

The government has so far rejected the Opposition’s repeated calls for a public inquiry, saying the investigations already underway are sufficient.

LaGrange has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in response to allegations made in the statement of claim in a $1.7-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed by former AHS head Athana Mentzelopoulos.

[email protected]

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.

Article content