The RCMP has found no evidence to support allegations of queue jumping in the provincial health care system.
The force responded to NDP leader Brian Mason on Wednesday. Mason brought forward a complaint in June, alleging there had been a criminal breach of trust in the system.
A spokesperson for the RCMP said they could not find anything to substantiate the allegations Mason brought forward.
“We looked at it and we couldn’t find anything to carry it any further into a criminal investigation,” said Sgt. Patrick Webb.
Mason’s complaint to the Mounties was prompted in part by comments by former Alberta Health Services CEO Dr. Stephen Duckett during a May speech in Toronto that alleged queue jumping was taking place.
Duckett said he heard that, under the old regional health system, MLAs were able to apply pressure to change waiting lists.
“I am told that some of my predecessor CEOs had designated go-to guys for discreet waiting list adjustments on request from MLAs, a practice I discontinued,” Duckett said.
The Edmonton commercial crime unit looked into Mason’s allegations and interviewed him along with several other people he suggested, but while there were many rumours and second-hand stories, there was no concrete proof, Webb said.
“We couldn’t come up with anyone that could provide us with first-hand knowledge about queue jumping,” he said. “In no cases could we find anyone with first-hand knowledge that it actually happened.”
Webb said Mason’s complaint is now closed, but the RCMP would listen to anyone else who could offer any direct evidence that queue jumping was taking place.
“If somebody shows up tomorrow with some hard and fast information about queue jumping, we are not about to say we are not going to be looking at it anymore, but it would have to be some hard and fast information,” he said.
Mason was on vacation when the RCMP announced an end to their investigation and responded with a prepared statement.
“I’m disappointed by the news that there has not been enough evidence presented to this point to proceed with a criminal investigation into queue jumping. Unless someone steps forward with more specific evidence, we will let the case rest,” the statement read.
Liberal leader Dr. David Swann said he was disappointed the RCMP would not be pursuing the allegations, but said he believes strongly the province needs a public inquiry into the entire health care issue.
“We have blown the whistle on that repeatedly and that is why we believe a public inquiry is the best way to get to the bottom of this — not only the bullying and intimidation but also the abuse of power that goes on in this government,” he said.
Swann said even though the RCMP has not found illegal behaviour it doesn’t mean there isn’t behaviour in the system Albertans would find morally questionable.
“Certainly Albertans find it morally objectionable that certain people get special treatment in the health care system — our publicly funded health care system where equality and fairness is supposed to rule.”
Swann also touted results from a telephone poll the Liberals commissioned that showed 40.1 per cent of Albertans believed the province should hold a judicial inquiry on the issue, while 29.8 per cent agreed with the government’s approach referring the questions to the Health Quality Council of Alberta and 17 per cent favoured doing nothing.
The province has asked the Health Quality Council of Alberta to look into allegations of queue jumping and of reports of doctor intimidation in the system, as well as waiting times.
Swann said Albertans don’t understand the limits of the council inquiry and he believes more would support a public inquiry if they knew.
“Most people in the public, even in the media, don’t realize the limitations of the Health Quality Council. They cannot force people to attend, they cannot force people to give evidence and they cannot protect the people from retaliation,” he said. “The public has been influenced, shall I say, by the spin machine from the Tory government that the Health Quality Council is all that is needed.”
Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky said the RCMP’s decision is a vindication of the government.
“I think it is very significant that, after a very exhaustive review, the RCMP came to the same conclusion that we came to and, quite frankly, that was there was no basis to these allegations.”
Zwozdesky said it was unfortunate the RCMP had to put effort into this, but he is pleased with the outcome.
“It is unfortunate that so much time, energy and I expect public expense was consumed to come to that conclusion, but it is important to have it just the same.”
