MHCare renews calls for government to release AHS procurement investigation
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In a news release, MHCare says its lawyers have new questions about the audit which it claims was provided to former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos before she was fired in early January.
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The following month, Mentzelopoulos launched a $1.7-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit, claiming she was fired after she investigated health procurement practices and contracts for private surgical facilities.
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Her lawsuit does not list MHCare as defendant, though it is mentioned in her statement of claim, with the company claiming those those references have resulted in ongoing reputable harm for itself and Mraiche.
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MHCare's lawyers released copies of correspondence with a government of Alberta lawyer where they repeat their request for the audit to be released, saying it could help clear the company's name or lead it to pursue future litigation.
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'This information in particular is important for our client to obtain as they expect evidence and information to be available that will support a lawsuit against other currently unknown third parties, or will support our client's defence to any potential lawsuits against them,' the July 10 letter reads.
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It poses six questions to the government's lawyer, asking why a Toronto-led law firm and private investigator were chosen to lead the audit as well as additional queries around the cost and mandate of that audit.
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It adds that details from the audit could be used by MHCare staff in potential questioning as part of ongoing investigations by the auditor general and the province's own inquiry led by retired Manitoba chief judge Raymond Wyant.
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Wyant's was scheduled to report back this past spring but his initial report is now due Sept. 24 ahead of the final report on Oct. 15. The RCMP is also investigating.
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On July 16, the government lawyer replied to MHCare's letter, saying the report could not be released as it was subject to legal privilege.
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'I am not in a position to respond to the various questions in your letter as they involve specific matters relating to the litigation and are subject to various privileges as well as the deemed undertaking under the rules,' the correspondence released by MHCare reads.
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