Alberta's Smith resists calls from NDP to pull lawyers from health probe process

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says hiring lawyers to funnel requests from the auditor general isn't meant to obstruct an investigation into multimillion-dollar health contracts- it's about helping get to the truth.

The government has instructed Alberta Health public servants to contact a lawyer to co-ordinate if auditor general Doug Wylie requests an interview as part of his probe.

The NDP's leader in the legislature, Christina Gray, says the policy suggests a coverup is afoot, and is challenging the premier to lift what the NDP calls a ``gag order.''

Smith says the NDP is twisting the truth, and the policy is the best way to help Wylie collect all the documents he needs to get to the bottom of allegations of questionable contracts.

Gray also says the government falsely stated that the process is standard and the auditor general endorsed it - a claim that last week was challenged by the auditor general himself.

Smith says she learned last week that her government hired an outside lawyer to help, and she's directed her justice minister to make sure staff and officials are fully cooperating with Wylie's investigation.