Alberta government to focus on legislative agenda, despite allegations of corruption [Video]

Alberta’s United Conservative Party government house leader says lawmakers won’t be sidetracked by allegations officials pushed the province’s front-line health agency to sign off on overpriced private medical contracts.

Legislature members will be meeting under a cloud for the start of the spring session Tuesday, almost two weeks after the former head of Alberta Health Services, Athana Mentzelopoulos, filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the province.

In the lawsuit, she alleges she was fired after looking into high-level government interference and questionable, multimillion-dollar contracts.

Government house leader Joseph Schow said Monday the sitting will see a suite of about 20 bills, including those he says will help Albertans with the rising cost of living.

Schow said he’s not concerned the lawsuit might draw the government’s attention away from its legislative agenda, pointing to priorities including health-care delivery and support for agriculture producers, the oil and gas sector and entrepreneurs.

“That is …