What on earth is the premier of Alberta doing engaging in a long conversation with a man facing serious charges, during which the accused pressures her to get his charges dropped?
It no longer matters so much whether Premier Danielle Smith directly tried to influence Crown prosecutors over COVID protest charges.
It no longer matters so much whether Premier Danielle Smith directly tried to influence Crown prosecutors over COVID protest charges.
What on earth is the premier of Alberta doing engaging in a long conversation with a man facing serious charges, during which the accused pressures her to get his charges dropped?
We knew the conversation happened earlier this year. Smith has acknowledged as much. But it’s one thing to be aware that they spoke, and quite another to hear what they said.
It makes for a breathtaking 11 minutes. Pawlowski even hints at annoyance with the premier for not getting him off the hook for his activities at the Coutts border crossing.
One issue is Smith’s extreme favouritism toward people who were facing charges brought by her own prosecution service. Others accused all over the province would be thrilled by such consideration from their premier.
Smith said she’s “frustrated” because she can’t drop charges. As a leadership candidate she promised amnesty. But, gosh darn, when she became premier she found out that’s an American thing, not Canadian.
“I thought we probably had the same power of clemency that they did in the U.S. . . . I’m not a lawyer by training,” Smith said.
You don’t have to be a lawyer to understand this. Nearly everybody in political life knows it. When did a premier ever pardon anybody?
This promise was either utter cluelessness or a cynical leadership promise she knew she wouldn’t be able to keep. Neither option is attractive.