The Alberta government has dismissed the board of Alberta Health Services (AHS), replacing it with a single administrator who will act as interim president and CEO while the province transitions its health-care services. The government made a similar move in November 2022.
The decision, effective Jan. 31, puts Andre Tremblay in charge of AHS in place of the board of directors while still holding his role as deputy health minister, the government said.
The move comes after former chief executive officer Athana Mentzelopoulos was replaced by Tremblay on an interim basis a few weeks ago.
The government has been working on an overhaul of the health-care system that will see AHS transition from a provincial health authority to a hospital service provider. The changes mean health services will be divided into four sectors: acute care, primary care, continuing care, and mental health and addiction.
“Recovery Alberta became fully operational last September. On Feb. 1, Primary Care Alberta will become fully operational and Acute Care Alberta will be established as a legal entity,” a government release said.
“Seniors, Community and Social Services announced its plans to establish Assisted Living Alberta, the new provincial health agency that will oversee continuing care in the province, on Jan. 30. This agency, the fourth and final provincial health agency to be established, is expected to be operational this fall.”
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When the government appointed Tremblay as interim president and CEO of AHS after Mentzelopoulos’s departure, it said the AHS board would be responsible for finding a new permanent top executive.
The Ministry of Health will now take on that responsibility, the government said.
”This is a critical time in our refocusing efforts as AHS continues to transition to a hospital-based service delivery provider, so it is essential that we remain extremely nimble in addressing any issues that arise,” the ministry told The Epoch Times in an email.
“We believe this is best achieved by increasing government oversight and involvement in the winding up of AHS as a regional health authority and overseeing its final transition to a service provider.”
The email also thanked AHS board members for their time and effort.
NDP Shadow Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman criticized the UCP government’s handling of the health care file, saying it’s “chaotic.”
“No one is asking for dismantling, mass firings, chaos, and new logos,” Hoffman said in a statement on Jan. 31.
“Nearly a million people still don’t have a family doctor, cancer patients are dying waiting for treatment, seniors aren’t getting the support they need and deserve, and too many are left immobile while enduring devastatingly long waits for critical surgeries.”
Previous Dismissal
It’s the second time that Premier Danielle Smith has fired the AHS board. In Nov 2022, she replaced the board with Dr. John Cowell, who reported to Smith and the health minister, according to a government news release.
At that time, the Ministry of Health was also given the responsibility of finding a new CEO and president.
Tremblay has held several government roles, which include deputy minister of education, deputy minister of agriculture and forestry, and deputy minister of transportation, according to his biography.
He has also been the associate deputy minister of health, assistant deputy minister of social policy at executive council, and deputy minister of apprenticeship and student aid with advanced education.
Tremblay also held roles at deputy clerk of executive council and deputy secretary to cabinet.
The Canadian Press contributed to this article.
