In my career as a refining technical expert, I evaluated vendors for long term service agreements and for individual equipment proposals. Dollar values ranged from 5 to 7 figures on probably hundreds of occasions over 2+ decades. What sort of gifts and entertainment could I accept in this role? Nothing more than a lunch or dinner of nominal value that could be reciprocated. If I’d have accepted hockey tickets, let alone Stanley Cup playoff box seats, I’d have been fired. No question. No exaggeration. My company took these ethical issues extremely seriously. And somehow I was still able to do my job effectively. The premier upped the limit of acceptable graft as essentially “keeping with the times” and part of “fostering good relationships as part of the role and responsibility”. That’s complete and utter horseshit that does not at all align with what is acceptable in the private sector. Nor is it required to do the job successfully. Even her staunch supporters should have a problem with what is transpiring.
I’m pretty sure they do and that’s part of where the cabinet/caucus pushback is coming from. I can’t believe they’re all beyond reach because that would mean there’s no hope. And I don’t believe that.
What strikes me is that a significant part of the response from both the Premier and Minister has been that AHS is pushing back against private surgical centres. But that's not the case, it was AHS pushing back against contracts that were OVERPRICED, not the fact that there were services being contracted. Athana was hired by the board put in place by this government and lauded by John Cowell when she was hired. Yet at some point she launched an investigation. So that totally plays against any narrative that this is someone in AHS dragging their feet. If I were part of Nenshis team, I would spend more time talking about that.
It appears, from the outside looking in, that they are running it like a business. Focussing on profits and paying dividends to their major shareholders. Alas, that does not include Albertans.
They’re not going to have LaGrange step aside for the same reason crooked accounts don’t take vacations. It means whoever is filling in will take a look at the books
And they’re going to circle the wagons because everyone is implicated. Everyone from Danielle Smith at the top to UCP hangers-on like Dale McFee have been accepting favors from Sam Mraiche and MHCare. If this ship goes down, half the party goes with it
In my career as a refining technical expert, I evaluated vendors for long term service agreements and for individual equipment proposals. Dollar values ranged from 5 to 7 figures on probably hundreds of occasions over 2+ decades. What sort of gifts and entertainment could I accept in this role? Nothing more than a lunch or dinner of nominal value that could be reciprocated. If I’d have accepted hockey tickets, let alone Stanley Cup playoff box seats, I’d have been fired. No question. No exaggeration. My company took these ethical issues extremely seriously. And somehow I was still able to do my job effectively. The premier upped the limit of acceptable graft as essentially “keeping with the times” and part of “fostering good relationships as part of the role and responsibility”. That’s complete and utter horseshit that does not at all align with what is acceptable in the private sector. Nor is it required to do the job successfully. Even her staunch supporters should have a problem with what is transpiring.
I’m pretty sure they do and that’s part of where the cabinet/caucus pushback is coming from. I can’t believe they’re all beyond reach because that would mean there’s no hope. And I don’t believe that.
What strikes me is that a significant part of the response from both the Premier and Minister has been that AHS is pushing back against private surgical centres. But that's not the case, it was AHS pushing back against contracts that were OVERPRICED, not the fact that there were services being contracted. Athana was hired by the board put in place by this government and lauded by John Cowell when she was hired. Yet at some point she launched an investigation. So that totally plays against any narrative that this is someone in AHS dragging their feet. If I were part of Nenshis team, I would spend more time talking about that.
And that's the spin I was born to parse through... :)
Juicy, fasten your seatbelts people, its gonna be a bumpy ride. She's in over her head. Thanks Deirdre. Keep up the great work.🤍
Thanks, David :) I really do love this stuff :)
Yeehaw
I agree this scandal is the tip of the iceberg. Much more lies beneath and she is afraid to let the genie out of the bottle.
It appears so.
It appears, from the outside looking in, that they are running it like a business. Focussing on profits and paying dividends to their major shareholders. Alas, that does not include Albertans.
Well — not all of them, at least.
They’re not going to have LaGrange step aside for the same reason crooked accounts don’t take vacations. It means whoever is filling in will take a look at the books
And they’re going to circle the wagons because everyone is implicated. Everyone from Danielle Smith at the top to UCP hangers-on like Dale McFee have been accepting favors from Sam Mraiche and MHCare. If this ship goes down, half the party goes with it
They weren’t… but I’ll leave it at that for now.
That’s a very exciting tease
I think I have it. And I’m pretty good at that… just making sure :)
Alas, looks like it wasn’t to be
Still waiting :)
And now there’s breaking dirt about Peter Guthrie’s ministry and their dealings with Sam Mraiche. I wonder who, if anyone, will get the push first?