NetNews Inc. NEWS RELEASE

Tuesday, May 9, 2000

Opposition reacts to NetNews CLS stories

"I would say it's a living example of a private company getting their way in the take-over of a public asset" says Alberta Liberal leader Ms. Nancy McBeth of the NetNews Inc. investigation of Calgary Laboratory Services (CLS). Ms. McBeth, in the centre of heated debate over Bill 11 says "the accountability feature is the most disturbing from a public administration point of view."

Ms. McBeth says that if Bill 11 is enacted, public access to contracts like the one with CLS would not change. Ms. McBeth asks "Where is the ability to see contracts?" She adds. "They won't be covered by Bill 11."

The first part of a five-part series on CLS questions whether the provincial government has given final permission to the Calgary Regional Health Authority to proceed. A number of NetNews requests for documentation or confirmation of the department's approval of the partnership between the region and MDS/Kasper have been virtually ignored.

Ms. McBeth also refers to former members of the Alberta government and civil service, Mr. Jim Dinning (former Alberta Treasurer) and Mr. Jack Davis (former deputy minister of health) who are now chair of the Calgary Regional Health Authority and chief executive officer of the CRHA respectively.

"There is no one protecting the public asset of health care?" she asks. "I would say it's the fox that's in charge of the henhouse.

Mr. John Kolkman, research director for the Alberta New Democrats, who received independent confirmation as late as July, 1997 that the government had not approved the partnership, says "I would have assumed that it would have been approved in the meantime."

However, since proof of final approval has not been produced, Mr. Kolkman says, "that speaks volumes about the air of secrecy that has been kind of thrown over the entire operation of Calgary Laboratory Services since its inception."

Mr. Kolkman was denied full copies of CLS contracts and service agreements and audited financial statements through Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. He has since appealed the denial and is waiting for a ruling from the province's privacy commissioner.