CALGARY – The Alberta government announced Monday it’s launching an external review of the 2013 investigation into allegations of conflict of interest involving former Premier Alison Redford.
Redford was cleared in Dec. 2013 in an ethics investigation over a potentially lucrative government contract awarded to her ex-husband’s law firm.
Opponents said at the time the ruling made it clear that Redford, who has denied picking the law firm that employs Redford’s ex-husband Robert Hawkes, did indeed make the decision.
In the past report, ethics commissioner Neil Wilkinson said while Hawkes’ firm was chosen by the Justice Department in late 2010 as part of a consortium to sue Big Tobacco, then-justice minister Redford took a hands-off approach with the selection committee. He said Redford also didn’t decide which firms would be short-listed, and added Redford then properly and without bias exercised her responsibility as justice minister to “render a decision” picking International Tobacco Recovery Lawyers, which includes Hawkes’ firm.
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Premier Rachel Notley’s government said in a statement Monday concerns have emerged over the last few days that Wilkinson “may not have had all the information that was relevant to his inquiry.”
“We believe that the best path forward to ensure an objective review is to have that review performed externally,” read a statement from Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kathleen Ganley. “Our government is committed to transparency and accountability, which is why we’re taking action.”
Retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Frank Iacobucci has been appointed to independently review the matter, and advise the government on what should be done to address it.
READ MORE: Contract details in Big Tobacco lawsuit to stay secret: Alberta justice minister
Any and all government documents that Iacobucci feels are relevant will be provided to him at Notley’s discretion, said the statement. Iacobucci will also meet with anyone he thinks can help with the review.
Iacobucci will provide his advice in a letter that will be made public, set to be completed by Feb. 29, 2016.
You can read Neil Wilkinson’s 2013 report below:
With files from The Canadian Press
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