Corruption, Connections, and Consequences: Alberta's Justice Minister Under Fire in Health Procurement Scandal

Welcome to another installment of the Corrupt Politics Series, where we expose the tangled web of power, privilege, and questionable decision-making in Alberta’s government. Today’s focus? Justice Minister Mickey Amery, the United Conservative Party (UCP) MLA for Calgary-Cross whose family ties and government responsibilities are raising serious ethical concerns.

A Family Affair: From Justice Minister to Procurement Controversy

Mickey Amery isn’t just Alberta’s Justice Minister. He’s also related to Sam Mirarchi, the owner of MHCare Medical an Alberta-based company that has received more than $500 million in taxpayer dollars through procurement contracts with Alberta Health Services (AHS). That includes involvement in the highly controversial private surgical clinic deals and the infamous $70 million Turkish Tylenol order.

MHCare Medical is part-owner of several private surgical clinics the same clinics at the heart of a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed by former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos. According to court filings, Mentzelopoulos was actively conducting an internal investigation into contracting and procurement practices involving these clinics when she was abruptly terminated by the UCP government.

One of those deals involved the rushed import of children’s Tylenol from Turkey during a supply crisis. AHS paid MHCare tens of millions, but reports suggest the medicine was unusable, and approximately $49 million worth of product never arrived. To date, MHCare has not reimbursed the public for the missing goods.

Yet it is Minister Amery a relative of MHCare’s owner who now represents the government in defending against the former CEO’s lawsuit. The UCP claims Mentzelopoulos was dismissed as part of a broader “healthcare system transformation,” .

Today in the Alberta Legislature, NDP MLAs called out the glaring conflict of interest and demanded answers. The clip speaks for itself.

The Voice of Conscience: Former UCP MLA Speaks Out

Adding to the UCP's growing internal strife is former UCP MLA Scott Sinclair, who now sits as an independent after being expelled from caucus. His crime? Telling the truth.

Sinclair publicly criticized the UCP’s budget for failing rural Alberta particularly on healthcare. Rather than listen, the party ousted him. But in doing so, they may have handed him a lifeline.

Let me just say this: the UCP did Scott Sinclair a favour. Because now, untethered from party discipline, he can truly stand for the people he represents. As a progressive, I may disagree with him on some issues but I’ll rally around any politician who fights for their community and speaks truth to power.

To those still clinging to the UCP’s sinking ship: take a look around. The scandals are piling up. The ethics are nonexistent. And the public? They’re watching. If you care at all about your political future or your integrity it’s time to jump ship.