CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/22/13 -- The Lieutenant Governor in Council has ordered a Public Inquiry to be held pursuant to Section 17 of the Health Quality Council of Alberta Act concerning the possibility of improper preferential access being given to publicly funded health services in Alberta.

The Honourable John Z. Vertes, Commissioner of the Health Services Preferential Access Inquiry, will hold Public Hearings in Calgary in February, 2013 on the dates and at the locations listed below. The purpose of these hearings is to receive evidence pertinent to the Order in Council's Terms of Reference.

Attached is the tentative schedule of witness appearances.

CALGARY

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                  February 25, 26, 27, 28 and March 1, 2013                 
                           9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.                           
                                                                            
                                Room #105/106                               
                          Telus Rooms (Main Level)                          
                The Telus Convention Centre - North Building                
                 120 - 9th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB  T2G 0P3                  
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Additional information regarding the public hearings is available on the Commission's website: www.healthaccessinquiry.com.

Health Services Preferential Access Inquiry

Witness Schedule

February 25 to March 1, 2013

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Monday             Tuesday            Wednesday          Thursday  Friday   
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25                 26                 27                 28        1        
                                                                            
Olga Koch          Expert Panel       Presentation of    To Be     To Be    
                                      the Rimbey Report  Announced Announced
Dr. Mark Swain,    Dr. Brian Goldman  (John Church)                         
Division Head of   (Emergency                                               
Gastroenterology   Physician, Mount   Expert Panel                          
                   Sinai Hospital,                                          
Dr. Ron Bridges,   Toronto; Host of   Dr. David Alter                       
CCSC Founder(i)    CBC's "White Coat; (Associate                            
                   Black Art")        Professor, Dept of                    
Entry of                              Medicine,                             
Statements         Dr. Owen Heisler   University of                         
                   (Assistant         Toronto)                              
Heather Stubley,   Clinical                                                 
CCSC Nurse(i)      Professor,         Dr. John Church                       
                   University of      (Associate                            
Statement of Dr.   Alberta)           Professor, Dept of                    
Terry D. Sosnowski                    Political Science,                    
                   Ms. Pam Whitnack   U of A and former                     
Monica Ulmer,      (President,        Associate                             
Alberta Health     Whitnack &         Professor for                         
                   Associates; former Centre for Health                     
                   Exec VP, AHS and   Promotion, U of A)                    
                   former CEO of                                            
                   Chinook Health     Dr. Lynette Reid                      
                   Region)            (Associate                            
                                      Professor, Dept of                    
                                      Bioethics,                            
                                      Dalhousie                             
                                      University)                           
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(i)CCSC- Colon Cancer Screening Centre