Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has removed the deputy minister of health from his role to create separation from his other job as the sole administrator of the province’s health authority while investigators examine allegations that government officials interfered in the agency’s contract and procurement processes.

The Globe and Mail first reported the allegations, now contained in a lawsuit filed in February by Alberta Health Services’ former chief executive Athana Mentzelopoulos. Alberta terminated Ms. Mentzelopoulos on Jan. 8, which she alleges was two days before she was scheduled to meet with the Auditor-General to discuss what her internal investigations uncovered.

Ms. Smith said on Wednesday if there are problems with contracts and procurement at the provincial health authority, then the agency, rather than the government, will be at fault.

The government installed Darren Hedley, an associate deputy minister of health, as the acting deputy minister of health in place of Andre Tremblay, Ms. Smith said Wednesday. The government dismissed AHS’s board last month and named Mr. Tremblay as its sole administrator.