Fact check: Is Danielle Smith corrupt

1. Summary of the results

The question of whether Danielle Smith is corrupt cannot be definitively answered at this time, as investigations are ongoing. However, there are serious allegations of government interference in health procurement:

• Former AHS president Athana Mentzelopoulos claims she was fired for investigating "sketchy procurement deals" involving private surgical companies ^[1]
• Premier Smith denies involvement and claims she was unaware of these allegations until media reports surfaced ^[2]
• An auditor general investigation has been initiated to examine these claims ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

• Smith's response to the allegations includes:

Supporting an investigation by the auditor general ^[3]

Denying involvement in procurement decisions ^[1]

Refusing calls for a public inquiry ^[1]

There's a broader pattern of controversial behavior:

Smith has a documented history of engaging with conspiracy theories ^[4]

A separate incident involving an unsigned letter about Edmonton city government raises questions about transparency ^[5]

NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi characterized Smith's press conference as "a master class in gaslighting" ^[1]

**3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement**

The original question oversimplifies a complex situation where multiple parties have competing interests:

Political interests:

The governing party benefits from maintaining public trust and avoiding scandal

Opposition parties, like the NDP, benefit from highlighting potential misconduct ^[1]

• Healthcare interests:

Private surgical companies could benefit from favorable procurement deals ^[2]

Public health system administrators have an interest in maintaining procurement integrity

• Media portrayal:

Some sources emphasize Smith's credibility issues and past controversial statements ^{[4] [6]}

Other sources focus on her willingness to support investigations ^[3]

The situation remains under investigation, and while serious allegations exist, no definitive proof of corruption has been established ^[3].