The official opposition is linking two major scandals in Alberta’s health system: queue-jumping and executive expense claims – in a trip the former Capital Health Executive Vice President and COO took six years ago.
On Monday, the Wildrose Party released expense claims filed by Michelle Lahey in relation to a trip she took to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
According to documents released by the party, which had been obtained through a Freedom of Information request, Lahey expensed $7,225.30.
The expenses came from a trip Lahey took to Rochester, MN from January 23 to 25, 2007.
During the trip, the executive spent, and expensed, just over $950 for hotel, taxis and food, Lahey did not expense the cost to travel there.
The rest ($6,054.92 CDN) was paid to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Party leader Danielle Smith said the documents uncover a link between two major scandals that have rocked the provincial health system.
“I think that this is just a pattern of behaviour,” Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith said. “The reason we haven’t seen a change in the pattern of behaviour is because we have not exposed all of the past wrongdoing, identified all of the people who exercise such poor judgment and held them to account for it.
“We believe these dollars should be paid back.”
Alberta’s present health authority, Alberta Health Services, would not comment – saying they would not comment or speculate on something that’s in the past.
The Wildrose Party said FOIP requests have been filed for 42 other individuals involved in the health system, the party said some of those people are fighting having their information released.
