With a well-known legal expert by his side, ousted Tory MLA Raj Sherman took part in a health care protest outside the Alberta Legislature Saturday, demanding apologies from the Stelmach government for an alleged ‘whisper campaign' that he believes tarnished his image.
It's still unclear, however, whether the emergency room physician plans to file a lawsuit.
The issue started after fellow MLA Fred Horne placed a call to the head of the Alberta Medical Association, expressing concern over Sherman's mental health.
Late last month Horne said he meant no harm, and was just concerned about the level of stress Sherman experienced after the Edmonton-Meadowlark representative was kicked out of caucus for his outspoken health care comments.
"I was concerned about Dr. Sherman as a friend and on that basis I called Dr. White," Horne said.
Brian Beresh, Sherman's lawyer, sees the situation differently.
"Defamatory statements were made against him publicly," he said.
"Dr. Sherman believes he became the subject of a vicious… public campaign to destroy his good reputation," he said.
The pair says an investigation into the alleged smear campaign is underway, and depending on what's uncovered and what's offered by the government, court proceedings could soon follow.
"If I find that my client's privacy rights have been violated, I will take direct and immediate action," said Beresh.
Sherman, who let his lawyer do most of the talking on Saturday, is asking for both public and written apologies from all parties involved in the incident.
But one local political scientist argues there's good reason the first-term politician is now a target of the Tories.
"If he continues his current approach of attacking the government he has to expect that in the political game everything is fair game, except personal attacks," said Chaldeans Mensah.
This weekend Sherman did not back down from public criticism of his colleagues, again directing most of his frustration toward former health minister Ron Liepert.
"The previous minister actually bashed the system to bits," he said in front of hundreds of people.
Fred Horne could not be reached for comment on Saturday.
Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky, meantime, says he thought the matter had already been "clarified" in the legislature.
He warns if the issue goes go before a judge, the Stelmach government will not be able to comment.
With Files from Sean Amato
