Wildrose: AHS reimbursed executive for private care costs

EDMONTON – Alberta’s official Opposition has brought forward documents they claim show a former Alberta Health Services executive was allowed to get private tests at public expense.

“In December 2011, Alison Tonge a former VP in AHS received services from a private diagnostic imaging clinic in Edmonton,” said Wildrose leader Danielle Smith. “She was invoiced $1,160 and paid the bills. She then submitted the bills for reimbursement via expense account claim forms in January of 2012. The charges were approved later that month by Dr. Chris Eagle, our current president and CEO of Alberta Health Services.”

“Just yesterday, the minister had to admit that allowing a former health executive to expense out-of-province treatments at the Mayo Clinic was wrong, that it was unacceptable and offensive. He boasted about how the rules had changes, how AHS is different, how the rules are the strongest in the country,” added Smith, who stated this case “happened under his watch, while he was minister, after AHS was put in charge.”

Health Minister Fred Horne said Eagle told him prior to Wednesday’s Question Period that the payments were part of Tonge’s recruitment package tied to her immigration status.  (You can read Tonge’s expenses and contract below)

“I am informed that the expenses in question relate to the recruiting of out-of-country staff, which Ms. Tonge was, and her family. The expenses incurred were for the purpose of supporting their application for landed immigrant status in Canada,” explained Horne.

Alberta Health Services sought out Alison Tonge to fill a position as the vice president of their strategy and performance division. At the time, she was working in the UK, for a health authority there.

Tonge was hired Nov. 4, 2009.

In Dec. 13, 2011, she expensed $1000 in immigration physicals from the RJA Medicentre. Later that day, she also expensed another $160 for chest x-rays and other testing at Heritage Insight Images.

In an email sent to Global News late Tuesday night, Tonge wrote:

“I think the receipts and details were clear.  These were exams related to my application for Canadian citizenship – which was agreed as part of my package in removing my family to Alberta to work for AHS.”

In a written statement released Wednesday afternoon, AHS said:

“Alison Tonge was employed with Alberta Health Services (AHS) from November 4, 2009, to January 10, 2012. Ms. Tonge was recruited from Great Britain. 

Medical exams are required by the federal government as a condition of immigration and permanent residency in Canada.  

The expense claim was an employment-related expense. Ms. Tonge required the exam as a condition of becoming a resident of Canada.  

The medical services to meet the federal government residency requirements are provided outside of the publicly-funded health system. They are not medically necessary procedures, so there would be no preferential access, and therefore no Albertan was disadvantaged.  

Although AHS does not normally pay these expenses when recruiting out-of-country staff, it can be part of the recruitment process, and in this case AHS agreed to pay for the immigration-related medical expenses for Ms. Tonge, and her family, totaling $1,570, as part of her move to Canada.” 

As part of Tonge’s contract with AHS, certain relocation fees were included. Tonge was provided with financial assistance to help move her family from England to Edmonton, trips back and forth, and any other “reasonable expenses” associated with the move.

Tonge was fired from her position with AHS on Jan. 10, 2012.

Smith also brought up in QP that Tonge was “let go with a $426,000 severance package.”

Soon after, AHS began making arrangements to pay for Tonge’s travel expenses back to the UK, including a bill for $14,684 with Western Moving.

“This is two-tier, queue-jumping, expense account abuse, all wrapped up in one offensive package,” Smith said, to which Redford replied:

“That is rich coming from an opposition party that less than a year ago told Albertans that they believe there should be a two-tiered system in our province.”

Tonge now works for the National Health Service in England.

Smith says the Tonge case, and similar cases of inappropriate spending, demand a full investigation of all health executive expenses.

“The culture of entitlement that we saw with other executives under the former health regions and under previous health ministers is still alive despite this premier’s claims to have irradiated it,” she said.

“One of the reasons many of the people on this side of the house decided to run in 2008, was to change health care,” responded Premier Alison Redford. “That is what this health minister has done with that deal with doctors on Monday, and we’re very proud of him.”

“We are very proud of the fact that we’ve introduced an expense claim policy that will ensure Mr. Speaker that all information is available to the public with respect to expenses, not only for Alberta Health Services, but for government ministers, for MLAs, for public services, and for other agency boards and commissions,” Redford added.

Follow @Emily_Mertz

With files from Vassy Kapelos and Sarah Kraus

Alison Tonge Expenses

AHS Alison Tonge Contract