An Alberta cabinet minister resigned Tuesday morning to protest Premier Danielle Smith’s handling of allegations government officials pressed the provincial health authority to make deals favouring private businesses, deepening the crisis over the contracting and procurement affair.

Infrastructure Minister Peter Guthrie said he stepped down at Tuesday morning’s cabinet meeting.

Mr. Guthrie said he resigned because he is uncomfortable with the government’s lack of action after allegations outlined in a lawsuit questioned contracting and procurement practices at Alberta Health Services and the Health Ministry, which were first reported by The Globe in early February.

“I’m not going to stand by and see potential corruption exist within government and be a part of that,” Mr. Guthrie said. He plans to sit in the legislature as a member of the United Conservative Party caucus.