The private residential addiction recovery facility located west of Sundre at the former Mountain Aire Lodge has been issued an order by the provincial government to cease operating.
Citing concerns about patient safety, a press release dated Tuesday, Oct. 22 reported that “Alberta Health has received numerous complaints alleging poor safety, quality of care and inappropriate financial practices of the facility in Clearwater County.”
Steve Buick, press secretary for the ministry of health, said during a phone interview that the recent incident when a Regina man wandered off the site and was later discovered deceased in the Red Deer River “was absolutely a factor” in the decision.
But he quickly added that “there have been a number of complaints dating back to 2016.”
A man loads a box into a vehicle at the facility on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The previous government, he said, would have been justified in taking action.
“But they did not, so it fell to us.”
Alberta Health Services officials had previously identified several issues with the facility’s safety, and those concerns were not resolved. Earlier this month, AHS once again brought those concerns forward, he said, adding the matter had become urgent.
“We decided we could not wait any longer.”
The province has been working to implement the Mental Health Services Protection Act, also known as Bill 30, which was passed under the previous administration. Operators of residential addiction treatment centres have until Nov. 1 to be licensed under the new legislative framework.
Buick could not comment on individual applications, or whether the facility's owners were going through that process. However, he added that the facility “would not be in operation under those requirements as outlined by the act.”
Patients were being offered an opportunity to relocate to another facility, he said.
“That’s happening today. There’s a process to evaluate them and discuss options with their families and see if they want to continue treatment at another location at no additional cost,” he said.
A sign from Alberta Health Services posted on a door declaring the order to close the facility. Noel West/MVP Staff
While he could not comment on where that alternate location would be, Buick was able to confirm the facility is not operated by the same operator, named in the press release as Addiction Recovery Network.
“It is not another location of the same operator — they have no other locations in Alberta,” he said.
“Our government will not stand by while any company seeks to take advantage of families or individuals dealing with addiction or mental health issues,” said Jason Luan, associate minister of mental health and addictions, in the press statement.
“To any company engaged in harmful practices: know that we will pursue you to the fullest extent of our authority. We will not allow the process of recovery to be brought into disrepute. Our government was elected to stand up for Albertans. We’re going to do just that.”
The government took action under the authority of the Public Health Act as well as the Mental Health Services Protection Act as a result of serious concerns that the facility “was not providing safe, quality services and providing consumer protections.”
Bill 30, reads the press release, allows the minister of health to issue an order authorizing an investigation and directing a residential addiction treatment service provider to cease offering or providing services.
“Based on the number and nature of complaints our ministry has received,” said Tyler Shandro in the press statement, “I have signed a ministerial order directing Alberta Health staff to investigate the facility once patients have been safely moved to another treatment centre.”
Other complaints filed against the operation included a lack of medical supervision as advertised as well as staff alleging unpaid wages.
Calls to Addiction Recovery Network owner John Haines as well as the treatment facility had as of the time of publication gone unanswered.
An aerial view of the facility, which is located at the site of the former Mountain Aire Lodge. Noel West/MVP Staff
