NDP calling on Alberta government to fire Minister Amery amid Sam Mraiche investigation

The Alberta NDP is calling on Premier Danielle Smith to fire Justice Minister Mickey Amery, accusing him of political interference. CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman

Alberta’s Official Opposition and New Democrat Party leader Naheed Nenshi is once again calling on the United Conservative government to fire of Justice Minister Mickey Amery amid the Sam Mraiche investigation.

Last month, RCMP were in Edmonton at the offices of MHCare Medical Corp., a medical supply company headed by Mraiche, that is being investigated in connection with a health procurement controversy.

Amery has come under scrutiny before, as he and Mraiche are related through marriage.

“We learned last year that he is the best friend and relative of Mraiche … who allegedly has received maybe hundreds of millions of dollars in improper contracts from the Alberta government,” said Nenshi in an interview Tuesday. “The conflict of interest is apparent.”

A recent independent report found that Mraiche has a current outstanding balance with taxpayers amounting to more that $49 million, stemming from a partially unfilled agreement on children’s pain medication.

“There isn’t another government in Canada where you would have a justice minister related to the central figure in a scandal, defending the guy in the scandal and changing the law to protect him,” said Nenshi. “That doesn’t happen in other places.”

The law Nenshi is referring to is Bill 14, which was introduced last year.

Bill 14 grants immunity to the justice minister, who also serves as the attorney general, from law society sanctions.

Sam Blackett, press secretary to the premier’s office, said Amery was not aware of the investigation.

“The amendments contained in the Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 relating to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer came into force on July 4, 2025, and as the Ministry of Justice has stated multiple times, did not include a retroactivity provision,” said Blackett in an emailed statement.

CTV News Edmonton has reached out to the minister’s office for comment.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nahreman Issa