The Government of Alberta said it is eyeing legal action against Contentment Social Services if it does not return provincial financial benefits used by clients to pay for its services.
In March, the province opened four investigations into the registered non-profit after CBC News broke the story of Blair Canniff, a high needs stroke patient who had been expecting, upon discharge, to go from an Edmonton hospital into a long-term care facility. He was moved into a hotel south of the city.
He and his family reported the hotel room wasn’t properly equipped for his wheelchair, his hygiene wasn’t being managed and he was given fast food to eat.
The province ultimately took over the care of 27 clients who had been under the provider’s care and covered the cost of a hotel bill from the registered non-profit that had not been paid.
Now, the investigation under the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services into the misuse of clients’ financial benefits has been completed, CBC News has learned.
In an interview with CBC News, Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon said he could not share how much is owed to the province, citing possible litigation, but said, to date, neither financial benefits nor hotel costs had been paid back by Contentment Social Services.
Nixon said the province has been in communication with the legal counsel of Contentment Social Services.
“I just am aware that they have been communicating and [we] have expressed in particular the fact that some of these resources that were used need to be paid back,” Nixon said.
“We are now at the spot where we’re headed towards potential litigation.”
When asked whether a deadline had been presented to the social services provider, Nixon said if there were not “results soon,” the government would continue down the avenue of legal action.
“It’s my view that we need to have this cleared up this year,” said Nixon.
The ministry said information has been turned over to Edmonton Police Service. Nixon says EPS suggested clients reach out to police directly and he said those impacted have been told to do so.
A spokesperson for the Edmonton Police Service tells CBC News it is not currently investigating Contentment Social Services.
4 investigations
One of the four investigations announced by the province was whether any elder abuse or neglect took place. Nixon said an investigation revealed nothing took place that met the definition of elder abuse.
The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee reviewed client files and those connected to the provider were moved to other service providers. Nixon said the number of those moved had not changed from earlier in the year when the province took over the care of 27 clients.
The province’s Consumer Investigation Unit is assessing Contentment Social Services for possible violations that could be pursued under consumer protection laws, according to Brandon Aboultaif, spokesperson for Service Alberta.
In addition, a review of AHS discharge policies by the Ministry of Health and Alberta Health Services is still underway, said Ministry of Health spokesperson Jessi Rampton, and recommendations are expected in the fall.
Alberta Health Services is facing questions about vulnerable patients being transferred from hospital to hotel. Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says the province will review a list of social services agencies it uses to facilitate the moves.
Developing accreditation
Nixon said the province is developing accreditation standards for organizations that provide non-medical supports.
CBC News asked the minister whether the province is responsible for allowing clients to be under the care of the provider in the first place.
“We need to make sure that doesn’t take place in the future, which is why we’re focused on accreditation. I think that is probably something that probably should have happened in years past. I can’t speak to why it did not, I was not here. So I think that’s our responsibility to fix and that’s what we’re working on,” Nixon said.
CBC News requested a comment from the director of Contentment Social Services about the return of clients’ financial benefits to the province, possible litigation and whether it is still operating but did not hear back.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said in March that Contentment Social Services would be removed from the list of housing providers that health workers can present to hospital patients when they’re being discharged.