Alberta politics: Latest News

Premier Danielle Smith must explain to Albertans why she discussed a criminal case with the accused before his trial, whether she still believes such calls are OK and whether she will continue to have these conversations, legal experts and political scientists say.

Danielle Smith took to Twitter Wednesday to announce that she had been suspended from posting on Facebook for a “few days” – pointing a finger at “big tech and government censorship.”In her tweet, Smith wrote: “Big tech and government censorship is becoming a danger to free speech around the world … As the Premier of a province of 4.6 million Albertans – if they can prevent me from communicating with you, imagine what they can do to any one of us.“Regardless of our political leanings, we must all stand against censorship.”The premier’s office said in a statement they are waiting for clarification from Facebook about the ban, and the information received so far indicates the ban will last for a “few days.”The statement did not provide what explanation, if any, the premier had received about why the ban was put in place.Global News also reached out to the social media platform but did not hear back.Danielle Smith was re-elected as premier on May 29, representing the United Conservative Party.Political scientist Duane Bratt said he’s curious to know what she’s been banned for, and that should have been made clear in the message she received from Facebook.“Even if that notice doesn’t include the reasons, why can’t they share that?” he asked. Global News asked the premier’s office for proof of the ban, but they did not provide any.“Why are they going on and announcing she is being suspended without any of the proof or the screenshot, or why that’s occurring.”Smith has been very outspoken on social media, even before she first became premier in October.“She’s calling it censorship and the irony of that is just how many Albertans she has blocked from her Twitter account.

In the final stretch before the Alberta election, provincial United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith and NDP Leader Rachel Notley are crisscrossing the province in a last-ditch effort to secure votes, especially in the battleground of Calgary.

United Conservative Partly Leader Danielle Smith broke conflict-of-interest rules while serving as premier in connection with discussions she had about criminal charges laid against a man involved in a pandemic health rules protest, Alberta’s ethics commissioner has concluded.

Danielle Smith apologized Monday after a 2021 video surfaced of her saying she wouldn’t wear a Remembrance Day poppy while comparing those who got the COVID-19 vaccine to followers of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany.Alberta’s election is set for May 29.“I’ve always remained a friend to the Jewish community, to Israel and to our veterans,” Smith told reporters Monday, deferring further comment to a statement from her campaign office.In the statement, Smith said while the comment was made during her previous career as a radio host and pundit, any comparisons involving the horrors of the Nazi regime are offside.” As everyone knows, I was against the use of vaccine mandates during COVID,” Smith wrote.“However, the horrors of the Holocaust are without precedent.”She said in the statement that no one should minimize the suffering under Hitler or the sacrifice of veterans.“I apologize for any offensive language used regarding this issue made while on talk radio or podcasts during my previous career.“COVID was a divisive and painful period for so many, including myself, but is thankfully now over.

Read more: NDP challenges Alberta Premier Smith to explain whether she shares ‘extremist views’ The election is not set to formally begin for two more weeks, and Smith invoked the new rule, not at a United Conservative Party event, but at a government-funded media availability to unveil a new panel to address multicultural issues.The Opposition NDP responded quickly, promising to answer any and all questions put to them, including followups.“Leaders take questions — it’s part of the job,” NDP Leader Rachel Notley said on social media.“If Danielle Smith isn’t willing to explain herself to Albertans, she shouldn’t be premier. Albertans deserve better.”Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi also weighed in on social media.“Folks, this is really wrong,” said Nenshi.

COVID-19 pandemic is a window into how entrenched people have become over their views of the pandemic and resulting public health measures.“Early on, I think we saw that most people thought the government was doing about the right thing. Some thought it was too fast, some thought it was too slow.

Danielle Smith, sworn in Tuesday as Alberta’s new premier, said she will shake up the top tier of the health system within three months and amend provincial human rights law to protect those who choose not to get vaccinated.

The race to become Alberta’s next premier may be damaging to the governing United Conservative Party’s brand, a longtime pollster says, casting doubt on how long the winner will be able to hold on to the top job.

Danielle Smith, considered one of the front-runners in the United Conservative Party leadership race, faced sharp criticism Wednesday from debate rivals over her Alberta sovereignty plan and controversial comments on cancer.

The Federal Court of Canada has granted Alberta intervener status in four legal challenges against the Emergencies Act.

#ResignKenney was trending on Twitter, after the premier failed to lay out consequences for at least eight MLAs and staffers for Alberta’s United Conservative Party who travelled internationally amid the COVID-19 pandemic.A spokesperson for the UCP confirmed Saturday that at least eight party members and staffers have recently travelled out of Canada.Christine Myatt, the press secretary for the premier, confirmed that at least five elected officials, including Jason Stephan, the MLA for Red Deer-South, as well as Pat Rehn, the MLA for Lesser Slave Lake, Tanya Fir, MLA for Calgary-Peigan, Jeremy Nixon, MLA for Calgary-Klein, and Tracy Allard, the minister of municipal affairs, all have recently travelled out of Canada.Three high-level

“The UCP government is letting down these students,” NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman said. “This year — probably — will be one of the hardest years of their lives.”Inclusion Alberta works with children with disabilities and their families.

COVID-19 pandemic.For Alberta, the one-year deal will mean more than $45 million this fiscal year to create new licensed child-care spaces through capital and program grants and subsidies for more lower-income families.

The province said Saturday that its “Fair Deal Panel” has submitted its final report, which contains an assessment of viewpoints on Alberta’s role in the country, but it will not be released “until the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is over.”

Alberta’s Opposition NDP, along with union leaders, is calling on the province to shut down a Cargill meat-packing plant so it can be determined whether the company is meeting legal obligations to involve workers in safety concerns.

Alberta politicians are to return to the legislature on Wednesday to debate bills tied to the COVID-19 outbreak.

One day after the Alberta government announced that daycares will soon once again be able to open, the phone has not stopped ringing at Global Aware Kids Care in Edmonton.