Alberta leadership debate sees Smith and Notley go toe-to-toe on trust and ethics
Posted May 18, 2023 10:04 pm.
Last Updated May 19, 2023 9:37 pm.
Alberta UCP leader Danielle Smith and NDP leader Rachel Notley went back and forth in the only debate for the Alberta election in Edmonton Thursday.
The two were asked about affordability, health care, the economy, and a “wild card” series of questions.
However, Notley remarked on trust in Smith, while the UCP leader focused on public safety and the current actions of the party to thwart crime in the province.
This is also a rare opportunity with two women debating for the premiership, a first for Alberta.
Smith, a former talk show host, stuck to the camera and focused her words, while Notley spoke directly with Smith and looked her way when throwing barbs.
The debate also comes as Smith was found to have violated the Conflict of Interest Act in her interactions with the province’s justice minister, relating to charges against Calgary pastor Artur Pawlowski.
“It was a mistake. I’m not a perfect person,” Smith told reporters after the debate.
Watch: Counting down to Alberta’s high stakes debate
During the hour-long cast, the two leaders tossed barbs at one another in all areas, with both calling the other out for past slip-ups in office or on tape.
Smith swatted back attacks the NDP made during the election cycle.
“Ms. Notley likes to show grainy videos of things I said while I was on radio,” she said.
“And the reason she doesn’t want to run on her record is it was an absolute disaster.”
However, Notley said the videos and comments Smith has made in the past were recent and in “high definition.”
“And you know what, we had high definition when you said you want to sell our hospitals across Calgary. And you know what, we had high definition a week ago when your Deputy Premier said that he thought people should pay to use the emergency room,” she said.
At various points, Smith linked Notley with the “Liberal-NDP coalition,” alleging her boss is “Jagmeet-Singh,” while the NDP leader was quick to bring up the recent violation she faced Thursday.
“Having learned today that Danielle Smith broke the law, I will also protect our law, and I will never break it,” Notley said during her closing statements.
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Meanwhile, Smith also said that Notley and the CBC have to “apologize” for allegations made against her for speaking to Crowns prosecutors.
“You flat-out lied for several months, saying that I and my office had contacted crown prosecutors. She said that is absolutely not true,” Smith said.
Margaret Trussler’s report found no evidence Smith or members of her staff contacted prosecutors, as alleged by the CBC.
She adds that she is not recommending sanctions against Smith for her violation at this point in time but reserves the right to do so when the legislature is back in session.
The commissioner also recommends new legislature members attend training about the roles of the three branches of government.
Notley also took the time to trash Smith’s past comments when it came to privatizing health care, while Smith called Notley for “running away from her record,” referring to her time in office.
Smith said Notley’s NDP wants to “defund the police,” while Notley said the UCP defunds the police early in its term by taking a bigger chunk of the photo radar money for itself, only to recently return that cash as the election loomed.
Meanwhile, in her closing remarks, Smith told watchers, “Albertans are my bosses now,” regardless of what she said in the past.
“My oath is to serve you and no one else,” she said.
“We are a land of entrepreneurs and innovators, the pioneers and farmers of families and communities, a place where the best and brightest come from every corner of the world to join us in building one of the greatest places on earth to live and work and raise a family from the bottom of my heart,” Smith said.
Notley used her closing remarks to remind Albertans of Smith’s record and said, “Enough is enough,” with drama and controversy around Smith.
“My offer to you is stable, predictable, thoughtful leadership that you can count on. It’s time to get back to the things that matter to people,” Notley said.
“Now, you may not always agree with me, and I may not have always gotten it right. But I say what I mean, and I mean what I say if I am premier again, I will work daily to earn your trust and to focus on your priorities.”
Political scientist reacts
Following the debate, Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt spoke with CityNews and said there were some surprises between the two leaders.
“I thought Notley would have focused her attacks on that report,” Bratt said.
“She referenced it in her opening statement and then again, at the end. But for much of a debate, it wasn’t front and center.”
He says this is because the leaders focused on their debate prep.
“And then all of a sudden, this report shows up this morning. And so, going in, I thought they would be referencing that a lot more,” Bratt said.
He says people are going to view this through their own lens and wouldn’t say if there was a clear winner.
“Based on the expectations with the attacks that Smith has been suffering throughout this campaign, she wins the expectations game. And so if it’s a draw that benefits Smith,” Bratt explained.
“Ultimately, this election is going to come down to again. What’s your driving focus? Is that the economy? Is it health care or is it trust?”
Watch: Alberta election controversies highlight important of image
Bratt also noted a “curious moment” when Smith called out Notley for not giving teachers a raise, while she was proud to do the same during her tenure.
“That goes against the UCP narrative that Notley gave everything to the unions. So I was quite stricken by that. That Smith would criticize Notley for not giving teachers a raise in a time of a recession,” Bratt said.
Smith disavowed comments by Lacombe-Panoka candidate Jennifer Johnson, who compared transgender children to feces, on Thursday.
The debate did not contain any mention of the controversy.
Albertans head to the polls on May 29.
-With files from Tiffany Goodwein and The Canadian Press
