Alberta auditor expects to complete health-contract investigation by end of year

EDMONTON — Alberta’s new auditor general, Phil Peters, says he expects his investigation into a health-care contracting scandal to be complete by the end of this year.

The province’s previous auditor general, Doug Wylie, finished his term in the spring, after Premier Danielle Smith’s government opted not to extend his contract.

Wylie pushed to stay longer so he could finish the probe that he had been working on for more than a year.

Peters took over the job in late April before it was complete.

Multiple investigations, including by the RCMP and auditor general, were launched after the former head of Alberta Health Services made allegations of corruption in multimillion-dollar health deals.

The allegations haven’t been proven in court, and a government-commissioned third-party report found no evidence of wrongful interference by Smith, her ministers or staff.

Former Manitoba judge Raymond Wyant said his review was limited by the mandate he was given, noting he didn’t have the power to question individuals under oath.

Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press