January 8, 2013

Premier Alison Redford. (QMI Agency files)

EDMONTON — Alberta Ethics Commissioner Neil Wilkinson has launched an unprecedented investigation of Premier Alison Redford's role in awarding the largest litigation suit in Alberta's history.

At issue is a possible breach of the Conflict of Interest Act when, as minister of justice in 2010, Redford recommended awarding the province's $10-billion tobacco litigation contract to International Tobacco Recovery Lawyers, a consortium of law firms including that of her ex-husband.

Bradley Odsen, general counsel to the office of the ethics commissioner, said the decision to launch the investigation was made in mid-December because of "what was going on in the House, what was going on in the media.”