Protestors rally in front of Premier Danielle Smith's office on March 1, 2025. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

POLITICS

Protestors, ahead of riding visit, rally again at Premier Smith’s Medicine Hat office

Mar 1, 2025 | 12:33 PM

Protestors called for Premier Danielle Smith to step down Saturday as they rallied in front of her Medicine Hat constituency office for a second weekend in a row, albeit with a smaller cohort this time around.

Protestors raised the same concerns over Smith’s handling of the AHS procurement scandal; her government’s deregulation of mountain coal mining; and the province’s approach to health care, education and affordability.

An ex-CEO of Alberta Health Services alleges government officials interfered to secure overpriced deals for private health contractors. Smith denies wrongdoing and plans to announce an external reviewer.

Adam Benn, newly-minted president of Medicine Hat’s NDP constituency association, said is important to raise awareness over the issues.

“Protesting in person at her office just puts accountability there and shows that it’s a decision they’re making,” Benn at the protest Saturday morning.

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“This is the premier of the entire province, so they have a lot of sway, a lot of decision making, and I think there needs to be at least some presence that is opposed to this kind of behaviour.”

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READ: Protestors call for Smith’s resignation

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Smith, who also services as MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat, will visit the riding on Tuesday to hold a public town hall with Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright.

Smith’s United Conservative government this week revealed a 2025 deficit budget that included a 20 per cent personal income tax cut for those earning under $60,000 and prepared for potential U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.

The fiscal document received praise from a Medicine Hat chamber of commerce official for the tax cut and funding earmarked for a local ICU was hailed as a win by a physician.

The Prairie Rose School Division said it was pleased with the budget’s three per cent increase in operations and maintenance funding and the addition of a rural funding component.

At Saturday protest, passing vehicles would occasionally honk and some would shout jeers at the protestors.

Benn, an educator born in Medicine Hat, hoped the presence of the protestors would lead to people asking questions and learning more.

Protesters call for Premier Danielle Smith to step down on March 1, 2025. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

“Maybe people see us out here and they go look up ‘hey, what’s been happening with health care in the province? What are the scandals and allegations around AHS and what’s been happening?'” he said.

“So they can at least do some reading on their own. They can look up articles and so that, in advance of the town hall, perhaps they’re more prepared with questions.”

Smith and Wright’s town hall gets underway at 6 p.m. Tuesday inside the Eresman College Theatre at Medicine Hat College.

Questions can be submitted in advance to the constituency email addresses — Brooks.MedicineHat@Assembly.ab.ca and Cypress.MedicineHat@Assembly.ab.ca — but there will also be an open microphone portion.