In addition to the apparent corruption, attention needs to be given to the politicization of the senior ranks of the civil service. A DM is ostensibly a non-partisan role, but the maneuverings here suggest some highly partisan dealings, and not just in the Health Ministry.
When the NDP hopefully win the next election, they better have the fortitude to really clean house. I’m worried their first reflex is going to be to demonstrate how “non partisan” they are by leaving a bunch of hyper partisan appointees in place who’ll sabotage everything they attempt
That's exactly what Rachel Notley did in 2015. Old Tory appointees proceeded to undercut her every move. Hopefully, Naheed Nenshi will recognize you can't be non-partisan yourself (his stated preference) if everyone around you is backing the Other Guys.
In her defence, after 44 years of one-party-rule, it would have been really hard to clean house AND keep the lights on. But it's why there needs to be an investigation NOW.
Good point, Jim. I'd forgotten that Notley herself declared she didn't want to disrupt the government by mass firings. Her intentions were good, but the Klein legacy of hiring party apparatchiks made cleaning house (as in, firing some "to encourage the others") necessary. Notley cleaned up agencies, boards and commissions; it was a good start. She should have followed through by weeding out party hacks at the Deputy Minister level.
Today, after eight-plus years of hyper-partisan politics (I'm counting from Jason Kenney's reverse hostile takeover of the Old Tories in 2016), I cannot see how Naheed Nenshi will have a choice. Now we have UCP/TBA apparatchiks--and I use the word deliberately--acting as commissars at universities, AHS and all its fragments, and who-knows-how-many-more theoretically "independent" agencies.
Danielle Smith has done more damage, faster, than any premier in living memory; I'd say she's worse than any premier in Alberta's history. Naheed Nenshi will have to repair at least some of Smith's blunder-damage. Rebuilding a competent, apolitical civil service will be only part of his job.
Ryan: Not anymore. The NDP will have to purge the government of all these UCP appointees. They can't leave them there, because the corruption is so immense.
And the connection with the contracts for private surgical clinics. Yikes. I thought it was odd that Marshall Smith resigned. Are the contracts for rehab services on the up and up?
That is really first rate reporting. And, again, it speaks to the way in which certain governments are busy either dismantling or simply ignoring the guardrails that are in place to guide the operations of government, government agencies and other institutions that are to steward government funds and services in the public interest. This should end some careers.
This is so true. From the Tait article it looks like Athana might be ready to spill the beans on her former colleague Deputy Minister Tremblay and the UCP mafia led by our illustrious Premier
Right wing governments these days, including Smith's, seem to love unfettered autocratic control. Anything to avoid the intrusion of a loyal opposition.
Mraiche has launched a lawsuit against #TheBreakdown whom have been actively pursuing and exposing this corruption. They need financial support go to Go Fund Me.
Only Bob Woodward was writing in a time when investigative journalism mattered and could have consequences on those in power who acted unethically. That moment is not now, and not in Alberta.
There are no ethical top tier Board directors who would trust this government enough to serve. This government has shown time after time that they don’t understand or respect good governance.
This was known months ago, and Postmedia would never touch this until now. They were too embarrassed to expose their UCP masters. Carrie Tait and Emma Graney ask the tough questions at Danielle Smith's heavily controlled press conferences. They also did what Postmedia would never do.
In addition to the apparent corruption, attention needs to be given to the politicization of the senior ranks of the civil service. A DM is ostensibly a non-partisan role, but the maneuverings here suggest some highly partisan dealings, and not just in the Health Ministry.
When the NDP hopefully win the next election, they better have the fortitude to really clean house. I’m worried their first reflex is going to be to demonstrate how “non partisan” they are by leaving a bunch of hyper partisan appointees in place who’ll sabotage everything they attempt
That's exactly what Rachel Notley did in 2015. Old Tory appointees proceeded to undercut her every move. Hopefully, Naheed Nenshi will recognize you can't be non-partisan yourself (his stated preference) if everyone around you is backing the Other Guys.
In her defence, after 44 years of one-party-rule, it would have been really hard to clean house AND keep the lights on. But it's why there needs to be an investigation NOW.
Good point, Jim. I'd forgotten that Notley herself declared she didn't want to disrupt the government by mass firings. Her intentions were good, but the Klein legacy of hiring party apparatchiks made cleaning house (as in, firing some "to encourage the others") necessary. Notley cleaned up agencies, boards and commissions; it was a good start. She should have followed through by weeding out party hacks at the Deputy Minister level.
Today, after eight-plus years of hyper-partisan politics (I'm counting from Jason Kenney's reverse hostile takeover of the Old Tories in 2016), I cannot see how Naheed Nenshi will have a choice. Now we have UCP/TBA apparatchiks--and I use the word deliberately--acting as commissars at universities, AHS and all its fragments, and who-knows-how-many-more theoretically "independent" agencies.
Danielle Smith has done more damage, faster, than any premier in living memory; I'd say she's worse than any premier in Alberta's history. Naheed Nenshi will have to repair at least some of Smith's blunder-damage. Rebuilding a competent, apolitical civil service will be only part of his job.
Mike J Danysh: Danielle Smith makes Ralph Klein look like an angel, but he was very bad. She is worse.
Mike J Danysh: The UCP fires people that get under their skin, and expose their misdeeds. They are replaced with UCP lackeys.
Ryan: Not anymore. The NDP will have to purge the government of all these UCP appointees. They can't leave them there, because the corruption is so immense.
It’s well beyond DM level. No independence of any level of governance.
You're absolutely right to focus on AHS as a massive disruption of public governance norms.
And the connection with the contracts for private surgical clinics. Yikes. I thought it was odd that Marshall Smith resigned. Are the contracts for rehab services on the up and up?
Probably not. There's also been talk of there being corruption around who got charter school licenses/funding, and Mraiche is involved there as well.
That is really first rate reporting. And, again, it speaks to the way in which certain governments are busy either dismantling or simply ignoring the guardrails that are in place to guide the operations of government, government agencies and other institutions that are to steward government funds and services in the public interest. This should end some careers.
This is so true. From the Tait article it looks like Athana might be ready to spill the beans on her former colleague Deputy Minister Tremblay and the UCP mafia led by our illustrious Premier
I stopped when I read the "44 page briefing note." She kept the receipts!
Right wing governments these days, including Smith's, seem to love unfettered autocratic control. Anything to avoid the intrusion of a loyal opposition.
Mraiche has launched a lawsuit against #TheBreakdown whom have been actively pursuing and exposing this corruption. They need financial support go to Go Fund Me.
Dennis Hoberg: Support for The Breakdown is happening. Sam Mraiche and the UCP are likely done. Their goose is cooked.
CBC did a good job.
https://www-cbc-ca.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7452622?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17389041605302&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbc.ca%2Fnews%2Fcanada%2Fedmonton%2Fauditor-general-investigation-ahs-1.7452622
IM Citizen: They did.
Oh, now that I look again David’s blog was in 2 parts, with the bit about Carrie Tait’s piece second. Panic averted!
Can you share the link please
https://albertapolitics.ca/2025/02/did-take-back-alberta-steal-the-2023-alberta-provincial-election-for-the-united-conservative-party/
She absolutely is. Such a talented journalist.
I went to look at David Climenhaga's blog for the comments, but it's disappeared. Anyone know what happened?
Only Bob Woodward was writing in a time when investigative journalism mattered and could have consequences on those in power who acted unethically. That moment is not now, and not in Alberta.
There are no ethical top tier Board directors who would trust this government enough to serve. This government has shown time after time that they don’t understand or respect good governance.
This was known months ago, and Postmedia would never touch this until now. They were too embarrassed to expose their UCP masters. Carrie Tait and Emma Graney ask the tough questions at Danielle Smith's heavily controlled press conferences. They also did what Postmedia would never do.