Premier Danielle Smith speaks to supporters after her victory in the Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection on Nov. 8, 2022. (CHAT News File Photo)

By Chris Brown with files from Canadian Press

Premier under investigation by Ethics Commissioner over COVID prosecution calls

Apr 10, 2023 | 9:26 AM

A statement from the office of Alberta’s premier says the Ethics Commissioner is investigating if Danielle Smith has interfered in the administration of justice in relation to a COVID prosecution.

“The Premier welcomes this investigation, is fully cooperating with the Commissioner, and is confident this examination will confirm there has been no such interference,” reads the statement from the premier’s office.

“As a result of the ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate for the Premier to comment on this further, until the investigation is completed.”

Smith has been under scrutiny this year for discussions with Art Pawlowski, a controversial figure in Alberta for his high-profile, disruptive demonstrations against the LGBTQ community and COVID-19 health rules.

He was charged with breaching a release order and mischief for allegedly inciting people to block public property at the border crossing.

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He was also charged under the Alberta Critical Infrastructure Defence Act with willfully damaging or destroying essential infrastructure.

READ MORE: Timeline of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and controversy over COVID court cases

NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir has been calling for an expedited internal probe into the matter before Albertans go to the polls on May 29 for a provincial election.

Smith first publicly acknowledged that she had spoken with Pawlowski on Feb. 9 when asked about it at a news conference. The issue came up again on March 29 when a recording of a pre-trial phone call was obtained by the Alberta New Democrats and played for media. She has since offered different versions of why she spoke to Pawlowski, most recently on her weekly radio show on April 8.

–with files from The Canadian Press