Alberta inks health deal with firm that has legally troubled US parent

[CHIMO]

EDMONTON (CP) - The company chosen to help reshape Alberta's health-care system is the Canadian subsidiary of a U.S. insurance giant that recently paid out $190 million to resolve allegations of fraud.

Shortly after Health Minister Iris Evans announced Thursday that Aon Consulting Inc. had won the contract to examine options for private health insurance, she said she was embarrassed to learn of the legal troubles involving the parent - Chicago-based Aon Corporation.

"I'm shocked," Evans told The Canadian Press.

Evans also publicly mused Thursday about the possibility of eliminating health-care premiums to give people extra money to buy private health insurance.

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/news/shownews.jsp?content=n110377A

And Ottawa doesn't see any problem!

[Marshall McClueless]

1. Well, I would hope Layton and Crowder would be

hitting Dosanjh repeatedly in his smug, tedious face with this fact at this very moment.

[newyawker99]

3. Hi Marshall McClueless!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Marshall McClueless]

4. Thanks, newyawker99

Very nice of you.

[applegrove]

2. Creepy. But turns out the young in Alberta are less American than the

older generation. So this shit is over with in another decade.

[u4ic]

5. Klein stands behind controversial consultant

EDMONTON -- The province will keep its contract with a consultant hired to study private health insurance despite fraud allegations against its American parent company, Premier Ralph Klein said Friday.

But questions about the $1.5-million contract continued, after it emerged that Ontario regulators laid charges this spring against the consultant, Toronto-based Aon Consulting.

Aon is accused of overstating the pension assets of a business that later sought bankruptcy protection. The case continues and the allegations, over valuation methods, have not been proven.

Klein sought to distance Aon Consulting from the alleged insurance fraud by its Chicago-based parent, Aon Corp.

http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=3dc5ac3f-f6ff-4d8e-b6e5-b657e2464411


I'm sick of these jokers whining about the federal Liberals, when they are just as corrupt themselves- and the vast majority of Albertans are blind idiots when it comes to their own gov't.

I hate this province. :grr:

[Spazito]

6. If Martin has any hopes of retaining the Libs in power, he is

going to have to stop waffling and come out STRONG with ACTIONS not words, to stop Alberta and any other provinces from privatizing health care. Legislation adding to the Canada Health Act to severely penalize provinces that even attempt privatization is in order, at the very least, imo.