EDMONTON — The Alberta Liberals are accusing Premier Alison Redford of backtracking on a promise to call a full judicial inquiry into allegations that politicians have allowed their buddies to jump the health-care queue.
During her campaign to be chosen the new leader of the Alberta Conservatives, Redford promised such an inquiry would also look into accusations that health bureaucrats have bullied doctors into keeping quiet about avoidable patient deaths.
But the Liberals say they’re upset that Redford is now suggesting that a bit of legislative tinkering with the Health Quality Council of Alberta might suffice.
Redford said she would look into the possibility of putting new legislation forward that would give the council the same powers as a judicial review.
David Swann, the Liberals’ health critic, says a judicial inquiry is essential to restoring Albertans’ trust while a health council review won’t be able to get to the bottom of the allegations.
He says the council is not a body that can investigate the kind of wrongdoing that has been alleged and only an inquiry presided over by a judge would have the power to compel witnesses to testify.
Liberal Leader Raj Sherman is one of those who levelled allegations against Edmonton health officials and the government, saying 250 patients had died awaiting surgery for lung cancer.
Sherman also alleged that doctors who knew about it were either coerced into silence or paid off with millions of dollars in hush money, though he never provided the evidence to prove it.
“If this government has nothing to hide, why would it be afraid of calling a public inquiry?” Sherman asked Wednesday. “It’s an issue of trust for Albertans. Let’s get to the bottom of this once and for all so that the health care system can begin to heal.”