Smith Dismisses Concerns Manning Report Used for Partisan Purposes After Leaked Email

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith delivers the state of the province address in Edmonton on Oct. 25, 2023. The Canadian Press/Jason Fransson

Alberta’s premier has dismissed concerns that Preston Manning is using his COVID-19 review panel’s report for partisan purposes after a leaked email encouraged the federal Conservatives to use his findings in the next election against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party.

An email that appears to be from the former Reform Party leader was shared Nov. 20 on X by Liberal MP George Chahal, who said he received a copy of the message.

“If the response of the Liberal/NDP coalition to the 2020-2023 COVID crisis should become an election issue in 2024, there may be some material in this report that could be used by the CPC [Conservative Party of Canada] to say ‘What should have been done to cope with the COVID crisis and what should be done to cope with future public emergencies’,” the email reads.

Mr. Manning made the suggestion in an email sent to 21 Conservative MPs on Nov. 15, the same day the Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel report was published.

Premier Danielle Smith said she had no concerns about the email when questioned by reporters on Nov. 20.

“Preston Manning, as I understand it, sent that out from his own personal email, and so you can ask him about that,” Ms. Smith said during a press conference.

“But we have given Mr. Manning the latitude to be able to do his own media on it, make people aware that it was available, and it doesn’t surprise me that he wants to see other politicians look at the recommendations, take them seriously and see if they would act on it.”

In the emailed letter, Mr. Manning adds that some of the report’s contents may be “useful in attacking the record of the Liberal/NDP coalition” when it comes to the federal COVID-19 pandemic response.

He goes on to say there would be “real merit” in developing a closer relationship between the federal Conservative Party and the United Conservative Party (UCP) that governs in Alberta. Mr. Manning says the UCP could use help in implementing some of the report’s recommendations, while the Conservatives could use support in winning the next general election.

“What I’m wondering is whether a small task force comprised of interested CPC MPs and UCP folks could be put together to jointly pursue this objective,” the email reads. “Everybody benefits, especially Alberta.”

Alberta Government Reviewing Report

The report from the panel that Mr. Manning chaired recommends implementing policies for future public health emergencies via the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA).

The report also touched on improving the province’s administrative and regulatory framework governing public emergency responses, striking a balance between protections from harm and protecting rights and freedoms, improving the health-care system, and increasing surge capacity.

Some of the report’s recommendations include making AEMA orders subject to cabinet approval, forcing the Alberta legislature to debate the merits of declaring a provincial-wide state of emergency, strengthening the Alberta Bill of Rights, Employment Standards Code, and Health Professions Act to protect rights and freedoms, and forbidding the closure of in-school education “except under the most exceptional circumstances.”

The $2-million panel was created by Ms. Smith, who had previously been critical of COVID lockdowns and the vaccine mandate. Ms. Smith told reporters her government would be going through the more than 90 recommendations “methodically” to reach a consensus on which suggestions they will move forward on.

“I don’t want to prejudge what our cabinet and our caucus will come up with,” she said. “But generally speaking, we have been moving in that direction with the changes that we’re making to the Public Health Act, so that people know who’s accountable in the event of a pandemic, it should be the cabinet.”

The UCP government has already tabled a bill that would give politicians, and not the chief medical officer of health, the final say on any public health measures in an emergency.