Share this Story : Edmonton Journal Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Braid: UCP will pick a new auditor general to write explosive health spending report

Current Alberta auditor general Doug Wylie said he ran out of time before writing a health procurement report

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Alberta auditor general Doug Wylie will leave the job before his big report on health procurement is written and released.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.

Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.

Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.

Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.

Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

That could be bad news for Albertans who need the truth about this long-running controversy over spending contracts.

At meetings next Monday and Wednesday, a legislature committee with a UCP majority will pick the candidate for Wylie’s job.

The question is whether that person will be another pit bull on the hunt for facts, or a cosy puppy in line with the UCP.

Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

The issue became deadly serious this week when the RCMP started executing search warrants, as the Globe and Mail revealed.

The Mounties went into the offices of Edmonton’s MHCare Medical Corp, owned by Sam Mraiche, and also an accounting firm owned by Sam Jaber, who’s associated with MHCare and serves on the board of Invest Alberta.

Both principals and companies deny any wrongdoing.

Wylie has spent the past year investigating three key matters — contracts for private surgical clinics, the Turkish ibuprofen fiasco and the purchase of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But he’s out at the end of April, before the job is done.

In a government report, retired judge Raymond Wyant found conflicts of interest in purchasing, but no involvement by Premier Danielle Smith or her political staff.

(Wyant issued a final addition Friday. It showed that 806,869 bottles of children’s ibuprofen were destroyed at the Swann Hills hazardous waste plant.)

Wyant said he could not compel people to testify, and some refused to be interviewed or answer questions. He wasn’t sure he got the whole truth.

Wylie, however, has those investigative powers and he’s been using them to the fullest.

Last fall, he asked the committee to extend his contract for two years to complete key inquiries, including this one.

He was denied without a word of explanation or thanks.

As a result, Wylie won’t write the report. His successor will have complete control over what’s included. The report might also be delayed for many months as the regime changes.

I’m not quite cynical enough to predict that the newcomer won’t be as ethical and determined as Wylie. Justice Minister Mickey Amery promises that the government won’t interfere.

Still, the political stakes are sky-high as we head for voting season — referendums in the fall, an election next year.

The auditor general said in a statement Friday: “This is the most comprehensive examination undertaken in the office’s history. And I have been personally immersed in this file for over a year.

Edmonton Oilers down another forward indefinitely, as big winger gets more bad luck Cult of Hockey

Edmonton Oilers down another forward indefinitely, as big winger gets more bad luck

3 THINGS: Should the Edmonton Oilers just fold up the tent? NHL

3 THINGS: Should the Edmonton Oilers just fold up the tent?

Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

'Insurmountable issues': Prosecutors stay child pornography charges against Edmonton fire captain Crime

'Insurmountable issues': Prosecutors stay child pornography charges against Edmonton fire captain

Oilers notebook: Roby Jarventie gets his shot; McDavid vs Kucherov on Saturday night NHL

Oilers notebook: Roby Jarventie gets his shot; McDavid vs Kucherov on Saturday night

Matthew Tkachuk on Edmonton Oilers: 'Respect, dislike, nothing but good memories' Edmonton Oilers

Matthew Tkachuk on Edmonton Oilers: 'Respect, dislike, nothing but good memories'

“The paramount importance and inherent complexity of this examination has required a significant amount of time for the corroboration of various forms of evidence, interviews and under oath interviews.

“The report will not be prepared and released by April 28. The clock just ran out on me.

“However, I am pleased that our document review and interviews will be completed and findings determined before my term ends.”

The last words are crucial. Wylie is saying the conclusions will be ready for the next auditor general. By implication, any effort to tamper with them would be risky.

The RCMP investigation seemed very quiet — until they showed up with those warrants.

But the Mounties have been investigating all along. From the very start in early 2025, they’ve interviewed many players in this drama.

I’ve talked to some of those people and they describe long, detailed questioning, often with two or more officers in the room. Nobody comes away with the impression that the RCMP is just going through the paces.

(You have to wonder, just as an aside, if an Alberta provincial police force would show the same diligence in a case involving the government.)

Whatever happens next, it’s obvious from those committee meetings that the UCP is done with Wylie.

His report on the Dynalife lab testing fiasco was devastating. The government could expect no more mercy on a controversy involving cronyism and huge amounts of health-related spending.

May the next auditor general inherit his courage.

Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Herald

X and Bluesky: @DonBraid

Share this Story : Edmonton Journal Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

© Edmonton Journal