In its statement of defence, the health authority says former CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos was terminated because of her 'own inadequacies' in performing her job.

Alberta's health minister has filed papers in court to formally reject allegations from a former health leader who says she was fired for investigating sweetheart deals, collusion and high-level political arm-twisting.

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange is alleging the former CEO of Alberta Health Services was unwilling to implement the government’s plan to break up the health authority, and made “incendiary and inaccurate allegations about political intrigue and impropriety” before she was fired in January.

Alberta’s frontline health agency says it fired its leader earlier this year not because she was investigating corruption but because she was a profound failure at her job.