Alberta Premier Gives CBC Deadline to Retract, Apologize for Alleged Defamatory Articles

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at the United Conservative Party AGM near Edmonton on Oct. 22, 2022. Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press

Legal counsel for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has given CBC a deadline of April 28 to retract and apologize for articles alleging she tried to interfere in criminal cases before the courts.

The letter, from the law firm Bennett Jones, accuses the media outlet of defamation.

The letter says that CBC’s recent articles “seek to sensationalize allegations already addressed by the Premier, and resuscitate a false and defamatory narrative against the Premier, her office, Alberta Crown prosecutors, and the administration of justice in Alberta.”

It adds that CBC is aware that Smith has openly discussed concerns regarding prosecutions related to COVID public health orders, and has had “appropriate contact” with the justice minister and deputy minister.

“The Premier has repeatedly and publicly confirmed that the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service operates independently of government and political interests,” the letter says.

It also says that CBC reported “unsourced and unfounded allegations” about the premier directly interfering with prosecutors based on emails allegedly from a staff member in the premier’s office. CBC later revised the article and admitted it had not viewed or seen these “emails.”

Review

Smith’s lawyer stated that Alberta Justice searched all incoming, outgoing, and deleted emails over a four-month time frame, and confirmed there was “no evidence of any contact” between the Crown and the premier about any COVID-related prosecutions.

The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service also stated it had cooperated with the independent review and said that “continued suggestions of impropriety without evidence are not warranted,” and the “unsubstantiated speculation harms the reputation” of the province’s prosecution service.

The letter threatens legal action against CBC unless it retracts and removes the articles in question, and publishes an apology and correction online. It gives a deadline of April 28.

CBC has previously told The Epoch Times it stands behind its stories.

Rachel Notley, leader of the NDP, said on April 3 that she is calling for an “independent investigation” into Smith’s alleged interference in the justice system.

On April 2, Notley made a video statement that said, “Leaders who have nothing to hide do not run from the media,” adding that “even leaders who have made mistakes ultimately demonstrate the strength of their leadership by showing accountability and engaging with the people who they are seeking the support from.”

Smith responded at an April 3 news conference, “Here I am.”

Campaign Promise

Smith’s lawyer said the premier will not be commenting further on the matter. On April 2 during her weekly radio show, Your Province, Your Premier, Smith said she has been upfront about talking to Albertans across the province, including having discussions with “many people who had received charges and were going through a court process.”

“I made it very clear during the campaign that I would do what I could to seek amnesty,” she said. “It’s happened in the past. When laws change, you don’t pursue the charges.”

She said that was her intention and acknowledged she was “new in the premier’s job.”

“What I discovered is that a provincial premier doesn’t have the power of amnesty,” she said.

Smith said she had several conversations with officials in the Justice Department as cases were being resolved, and she was advised to let things play out in court.

“I know [that] people are still hung up on the language I used,” said Smith. The premier said in January she was using imprecise language, but that every communication she had was with ministers.

“It was appropriate. It was through proper channels,” she said.

“I can only talk to department officials. I did. I raised the issue. I kept a campaign promise.”

Smith said she is waiting “for the court case to play out. And that’s where we find ourselves today.”