Alberta MLA steps aside, encourages incoming premier Smith to run in the seat

An Alberta legislature member has resigned and is encouraging the freshly chosen United Conservative Party leader — and next premier — to run for her seat in a byelection.

Michaela Frey, who had earlier signalled she did not intend to compete in the 2023 provincial election, says it’s her hope that Danielle Smith will choose to run in the constituency of Brooks-Medicine Hat.

Frey said she was going to bow out of the race to focus on her family life.

Frey says in a statement that Smith’s vision will breathe new life into southeastern Alberta and put it on the map for investors and exciting opportunities.

Frey tells CityNews Medicine Hat is often called “the forgotten corner,” and there is no better way to put a spotlight on the region than having the incoming premier run for MLA.

“She has indicated that she is coming to Medicine Hat tomorrow,” Frey said.

“I don’t want to make promises on her behalf, but I know that she is laser-focused on economic renewal, and making sure that we are continuing to deliver on our economic agenda as the government. I think that having somebody with a policy mind like Danielle Smith as the premier will be fantastic for our province, but especially for Brooks-Medicine Hat should she choose to run there as the MLA.”

Smith says she will visit the southeastern riding this weekend to meet with Frey’s board and the local campaign team before making a formal announcement next week.

Smith met with her UCP caucus, except for Premier Jason Kenney and two others, on Friday morning and started to put her stamp on the party and government.

“We had just a terrific caucus meeting,” she told reporters following the meeting at McDougall Centre, the provincial government office building in Calgary.

“I feel like everybody is really keen to pull together as a group and make sure that we’re prepared for the next election coming up in 2023.”

Smith is to be sworn in as the province’s next premier on Tuesday, but she still needs to secure a seat in the legislature.

Frey says she’ll do anything she can to make sure Smith is successful.

“I think there is nothing more important right now than coming together as a party and coming together as a conservative movement. Danielle has received a mandate from voters across the province, and at the end of the day, we need to be supporting the leader of our party,” Frey said.

Meanwhile, Alberta’s Opposition leader says the province is due for more chaos, costs, and conflict after Danielle Smith’s victory.

Rachel Notley says the UCP will continue to be consumed with its internal bickering instead of bread-and-butter issues like the cost of living.

Notley says Smith, who hasn’t yet faced any general voters, has no mandate to impose some of the measures she campaigned on, such as the proposed sovereignty act.

She chided Smith for being scared to run in an already-open Calgary constituency and called on her to declare a byelection in that riding as soon as possible.

Notley says her party is focused on things Albertans actually care about, such as the high cost of living.

She says her party is ready for an election any time.

Smith is to be sworn in Tuesday to replace outgoing Premier Jason Kenney.

She defeated six rivals in party voting Thursday, capturing nearly 54 per cent of the vote on the sixth and final ballot to claim victory.

Kenney announced he was quitting in May after receiving 51 per cent support in a party leadership review.

Smith is a former journalist, business owner and leader of Alberta’s Wildrose Party, which merged with the Progressive Conservatives five years ago to form the UCP.

She won on a platform to fight future COVID-19 health restrictions and federal policies deemed to be impeding the growth of Alberta’s oil and gas economy.

–With files from CityNews reporter Tiffany Goodwein