Latest news with #BordenLadnerGervais
Globe and Mail
26-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
MHCare demands AHS investigation results
A medical supply company in Edmonton is calling on the Alberta government to release a report the business believes could help clear its owner's name, which it argues has been sullied by allegations provincial officials interfered in the health care system to his benefit. MHCare Medical Corp., owned by Sam Mraiche, has asked the province and Alberta Health Services to distribute a report AHS commissioned in the fall of 2024. The health authority, under its former chief executive, hired Borden Ladner Gervais LLP to investigate deals for certain private surgical facilities, including two owned in part by Mr. Mraiche. The examination was later broadened to include MHCare and related entities. Mr. Mraiche and his companies are central to a wrongful dismissal lawsuit from the health authority's former CEO, Athana Mentzelopoulos, alleging government officials inappropriately leaned on her to sign deals she thought favoured private companies. MHCare notes Ms. Mentzelopoulos and AHS both reference the Borden Ladner Gervais investigation in their respective legal filings. MHCare, tied to allegations involving the Alberta government, says it is being unfairly attacked The allegations and political fallout have damaged Mr. Mraiche's reputation, MHCare says in a statement dated June 25 and provided to The Globe and Mail. The company argues the law firm's report could absolve Mr. Mraiche. 'At no point has the law firm's audit been shared with Mr. Mraiche, even though he continues to be subjected to baseless, harmful suggestions of wrongdoing – the accuracy of which, this audit might help to disprove," the statement says. MHCare argues there is no legal obligation to keep the law-firm report secret. MHCare's two-page statement was accompanied by a letter one of the company's lawyers sent the government and AHS, asking for the report. Borden Ladner Gervais, on behalf of the health authority, rejected the request, claiming solicitor-client privilege. Neither Mr. Mraiche nor MHCare are party to Ms. Mentzelopoulos's lawsuit, meaning they cannot file court documents defending themselves. The RCMP, Alberta's Auditor-General, and a retired Manitoba judge selected by Premier Danielle Smith, are conducting separate investigations into Ms. Mentzelopoulos's allegations. Mr. Mraiche's company says it has yet to be interviewed by the Office of the Auditor-General or the former Manitoba judge. 'This situation is profoundly unfair and unacceptable,' MHCare says in the statement. 'It leaves our CEO with no opportunity for public exoneration, even as media reports, innuendo, rumours and political attacks continue to linger.' Neither AHS nor the Premier's Office acknowledged a request for comment late Wednesday. It is unclear whether Borden Ladner Gervais finished its work. The government ordered AHS to halt its probe into private surgical facilities in December. An AHS summary of the law firm's findings, dated Jan. 10 and obtained by The Globe and Mail, says the health authority had not received a draft or final report related to the facilities owned in part by Mr. Mraiche. Borden Ladner Gervais was scheduled to provide AHS with a report into MHCare's historical contracting on Jan. 31. The government, however, dissolved the AHS board that day. AHS and the government deny Ms. Mentzelopoulos's allegations, which she levelled as part of her $1.7-million lawsuit. In response, Alberta alleges she was fired for failing at her job. None of the allegations have been tested in court. MHCare also denies wrongdoing. 'No charge of misconduct against the company or our CEO has ever been made by the province, AHS or law enforcement,' its statement says.
CBC
15-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Listen live at 4 p.m. on Saturdays: What questions do you have about U.S.-Canada trade?
With guest experts, Just Asking turns the week's news and latest trends into tips that help you make better decisions in your life. Whether it's tech, money, career or health — we'll hear you out, and help you out. The show takes live calls on CBC Radio every Saturday afternoon, and drops the podcast that same evening. The guest host this week is Julianne Hazlewood. Here's what's happening this Saturday: Fact-checking Donald Trump on tariffs -- what questions do you have about the U.S.-Canada trade relationship? It's been another week of escalating tariffs and threats between the United States and Canada. The U.S. placed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on Wednesday, and Canada responded with its own counter-tariffs on U.S. goods. Whether it's dairy, lumber, or trade deficits... Donald Trump has made a lot of claims about the Canada-U.S. relationship the last few weeks. What questions do you have about how the relationship actually works? What claims do you want our experts to fact-check? Jim Stanford is an economist and the Director of the Centre for Future Work in Vancouver, and Rambod Behboodi is a trade lawyer and senior counsel at the law firm Borden Ladner Gervais. They will take your questions. What questions do you have about measles? Ontario is seeing a surge in measles cases right now. Public Health Ontario is reporting 350 total cases since an outbreak began on Oct. 28, 2024. The number has increased by 173 cases in the last several weeks. Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health says that over 96 per cent of cases in Ontario are among individuals who are not immunized, or have unknown immunization status. There have been other outbreaks as well, including in New Brunswick, Québec and Manitoba. What questions do you have about measles? Saturdays at 2 p.m. PT, 3 p.m. MT, 4 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. AT and 6:30 p.m. NT.
