The CEO of Alberta Health Services, who assumed the role following a controversial dismissal in January, is currently on leave. Andre Tremblay, a former provincial health official, is now on a leave of absence as confirmed by the provincial hospital agency. In response, Hospitals Minister Matt Jones has appointed Erin O’Neill, an existing executive at AHS, to act as the interim CEO.
Eleven months ago, Tremblay took over as the top executive and sole director of AHS after the removal of the entire board and former CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos. Allegations arose from Mentzelopoulos, claiming wrongful dismissal by AHS and the government for initiating an investigation into contracts with private surgical companies allegedly linked to government officials. These claims led to investigations by the auditor-general, the RCMP, and a retired judge regarding AHS procurement practices and potential conflicts of interest.
In a surprising turn of events, Tremblay, who previously served as the deputy minister for Alberta Health, was implicated in Mentzelopoulos’s account. She alleged that Tremblay abruptly terminated her during a Zoom call on January 8. The specifics of Tremblay’s leave were not disclosed by AHS, citing it as a confidential human resources matter.
Premier Danielle Smith’s administration allowed Tremblay to hold multiple roles concurrently, overseeing Alberta Health, AHS as CEO, and serving as AHS’s sole board member, until he was eventually reassigned in mid-February. This decision followed mounting pressure within the government to address the controversies surrounding AHS and the allegations raised by Mentzelopoulos.
The new interim CEO, O’Neill, previously worked as an assistant deputy minister for Alberta Health alongside Tremblay. This leadership transition occurs as the province redistributes responsibilities to new Crown agencies like Acute Care Alberta and Primary Care Alberta, aiming to streamline the health system and redefine AHS’s role as a supervisor of public hospitals rather than a comprehensive health authority.
