Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently deflected many reporter questions on matters related to a defamation lawsuit she is considering against the CBC, but when asked recently who is funding the legal action, she answered, “the party.”
She did not elaborate on why the United Conservative Party (UCP) is covering the bill instead of the government, since the matter is related to her actions as premier. The United Conservative Party (UCP) did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times inquiry.
“I will not be commenting further as per the advice of counsel,” Smith said while taking reporter questions after an unrelated press conference on March 4. “There are matters that need to be resolved before the courts.”
The CBC recently reported on a phone call Smith had with Calgary street pastor Artur Pawlowski. The conversation happened in January and he was set to appear in court a couple of weeks later on criminal mischief charges related to last year’s blockade in Coutts, Alberta. The blockade was in protest of pandemic-related restrictions.
A letter Smith’s counsel sent to the CBC says its recent reports “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.”
Smith has said she openly discussed her concerns about prosecutions related to COVID public health orders and said publicly she would try to seek amnesty for those charged for violating them. She says, however, that she had only “appropriate contact” with the justice minister and deputy minister.
Previous CBC reports said Smith’s staff directly emailed prosecutors. Alberta Justice searched all emails over a four-month time frame and found “no evidence of any contact.”
The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it cooperated with the independent review and said “continued suggestions of impropriety without evidence are not warranted,” and the “unsubstantiated speculation harms the reputation” of the province’s prosecution service.
