A man appointed by Premier Danielle Smith to the board of a provincial investment agency repeatedly identified himself as a certified professional accountant in publicly available financial documents despite holding no such accreditation in Alberta or the United States, according to records and statements from professional accounting organizations.
Sam Jaber, founder and CEO of Edmonton-based Jaberson & Associates and Tax Pros Franchise Corporation, used the "CPA" designation and identified himself as a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants across financial statements spanning more than a decade. Both CPA Alberta the legislated provincial regulator and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants have confirmed Jaber has never been a member of their organizations.
The Alberta government's own official biography for Jaber, posted to the province's public agency list, makes no mention of any CPA designation. It lists his credentials as a Business Administration and Management degree from Lebanese American University in Beirut, accounting diplomas from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and Associate Membership in the Association of International Accountants a British organization since 2009.
Appointed as a Government Priority
Smith appointed Jaber to the board of Invest Alberta, a Crown corporation tasked with attracting business investment to the province, in November 2023. Government records show the Premier's Office flagged his appointment as a "priority for immediate action" in October of that year, and he was formally named to the board by order-in-council weeks later. His term is set to expire in January 2027.
At the time of his appointment, Jaber also served as chief financial officer of MHCare Medical Corp., a medical supply company that has received more than $600 million in contracts from Alberta Health Services since 2020.
RCMP Search and Leave of Absence
In March 2026, RCMP officers executed a search warrant at the offices of both MHCare and Jaberson & Associates as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into procurement irregularities in Alberta's health care system. Following the search, Jaber announced he was voluntarily taking a leave of absence from the Invest Alberta board.
Jaber's lawyer, Matthew Nathanson, has said his client "has done nothing wrong" and has not been charged with any offence. MHCare and its CEO, Sam Mraiche, have also denied any wrongdoing. None of the allegations have been tested in court.
In Canada, use of the "CPA" designation without accreditation from CPA Alberta is prohibited. Anyone can own an accounting business without credentials, but the protected title requires membership in the provincial regulatory body.
The Larger Procurement Controversy
The questions about Jaber's credentials are the latest development in a procurement controversy that has roiled the Smith government since early 2025, when the former CEO of Alberta Health Services, Athana Mentzelopoulos, sued the province for wrongful dismissal. She alleged she was fired for investigating potential conflicts of interest in contracts awarded to companies including MHCare. The government has denied that characterization, saying she was terminated for failing to execute its agenda. That lawsuit has not been tested in court.
The Premier's office has not responded to questions about what credentials Jaber provided prior to his 2023 appointment.
SOURCES:
Alberta Government Public Agency Biographies — Invest Alberta Corporation: Sam Jaber (public-agency-list.alberta.ca)
Invest Alberta Board of Directors biography (investalberta.ca)
