Alberta premier's former top aide files lawsuit against ex-AHS CEO, newspaper and journalist
CBC
The former chief of staff to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has launched a multi-million-dollar defamation lawsuit against the former head of Alberta Health Services, along with the Globe and Mail newspaper and one of its reporters.
Marshall Smith, who resigned as Danielle Smith's chief of staff in the fall and is not related to her, filed a statement of claim in the Edmonton Court of King's Bench on Wednesday afternoon.
The lawsuit names Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former president and CEO of AHS, the newspaper, its Calgary reporter Carrie Tait, and an unnamed man who is believed to be a former board member for the health authority.
Smith, who lives in Calgary, was the premier's top aide until Oct. 31. The premier said on social media that he told her in early 2024 that he had decided to retire from public service.
Smith's statement of claim alleges the newspaper defamed him in a February story about Mentzelopoulos's termination written by Tait.
The story refers to a letter, sent from Mentzelopoulos's lawyer to AHS's interim general counsel, that alleges she was fired in January because she launched an investigation and forensic audit into AHS contracts and deals with private surgical companies.
Mentzelopoulos is suing the province for wrongful dismissal, alleging she was terminated in part because she had started investigating contracts and deals she determined were overpriced and linked to government officials.
AHS and Adriana LaGrange — the former minister of health who on Friday became the new minister of primary and preventative health services — have denied Mentzelopoulos's claims in statements of defence that allege she was fired due to her job performance.
The province has appointed a former chief judge from Manitoba to conduct a third-party investigation into procurement. The auditor general and Alberta RCMP are also investigating the matter.
None of the allegations, including Marshall Smith's claims this week, have been proven in court.
Smith alleges in his statement of claim that the letter and the Globe's February story that referred to it contained false and defamatory statements about him. These included allegations that he pressured Mentzelopoulos to sign off on commitments for new chartered surgical facilities and appeared to be making calls on behalf of private organizations.
Smith claims the letter, or a copy of it, was given to the newspaper by someone he believes was on the AHS board.
Smith also alleges that Mentzelopoulos made false statements about him in court documents filed as part of her lawsuit against LaGrange and AHS.
He said defamatory statements made by Mentzelopoulos and the Globe painted him in "the worst possible light." He said he has since lost income, suffered emotional distress, stress, depression, anxiety, embarrassment, loss of reputation, humiliation and an inability to find work in his profession.
More Albertans are waiting longer than clinically recommended for critical cardiac and cancer surgeries, sparking concern among health experts and calls for urgent action.
There have been four collisions involving transport trucks in northwestern Ontario in three days, prompting renewed calls for action to address ongoing safety concerns along Highway 11-17.
Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives will huddle behind closed doors at a policy convention this weekend as some Tories question the party’s direction after nearly eight years in power.
The father of a three-year-old girl that was killed after being struck by a vehicle in Cambridge in mid-December says recent charges laid to the driver bring little comfort and relief.
The start of kindergarten can be a time of excitement or anxiety for parents, guardians and children — and also for Prince Edward Island's education officials as they try to staff schools appropriately.
Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation (NNC)’s proposed hydro project is facing some backlash in Pangnirtung.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will take to the stage Friday for what could be one of the most important speeches of his political career as he tries to convince delegates at the party's Calgary convention to keep him in the job.
As his flight departed from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport en route to Kuwait via Istanbul, Canadian crypto fugitive Andean Medjedovic was unaware that his globe-trotting lifestyle would soon be halted.
One of the largest taxi companies in Toronto will be down to three wheelchair-accessible cabs by the end of March, as advocates and providers say the city is failing to support accessible taxi drivers.
As a deep freeze continues to envelop southwestern Ontario at the same time municipalities deal with a pressing shortage of road salt, there's a renewed focus on finding different ways to melt road ice.
Dave Lawson is a proud Canadian who has bumper stickers that say "Canada is not for sale." He's fed up with grocery products plastered with maple leaves and patriotic logos that turn out to be American imports.
The Town of Badger has issued an evacuation order for some residents as water levels on the Exploits River continue to rise.
The head of a national seniors' advocacy organization says protecting nursing home residents from sexual abuse is an important but challenging issue.