The CEO of Alberta Health Services who assumed the position following a controversial dismissal in January is currently on a leave of absence. Andre Tremblay, a former provincial health official, is now on leave, as confirmed by the provincial hospital agency on Wednesday. Erin O’Neill, a current AHS executive, has been appointed as the interim CEO by Hospitals Minister Matt Jones.
Eleven months ago, Tremblay took on the role of top executive and sole director of AHS after the removal of the entire board and former CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos. Allegations by Mentzelopoulos claimed that she was terminated for initiating an investigation into contracts with private surgical companies allegedly linked to government officials, sparking inquiries by various authorities.
Tremblay, previously the deputy minister for Alberta Health, was involved in the events surrounding Mentzelopoulos’s dismissal as detailed in her lawsuit. The specifics of Tremblay’s leave of absence were not disclosed by AHS, citing it as a confidential human resources matter.
Premier Danielle Smith’s government allowed Tremblay to hold multiple roles simultaneously within Alberta Health and AHS until he was relieved of his duties in the ministry in February amid internal political pressure. O’Neill, the newly appointed interim CEO, previously worked as an assistant deputy minister for Alberta Health alongside Tremblay.
This leadership change within AHS coincides with the government’s ongoing restructuring efforts, transitioning responsibilities to new Crown agencies such as Acute Care Alberta and Primary Care Alberta. This shift is part of the government’s strategy to redefine the health system, positioning AHS as a regulator of public hospitals rather than a comprehensive provincial health authority.
