Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to provide update after meeting in Ottawa
Posted February 9, 2023 8:10 am.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to chat with reporters Thursday, which is the first time she has done so in a month.
Questions on health care, the Crown prosecutors case, Just Transition, and now, the viral handshake seen across the country with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are expected.
Before she met with Trudeau and the country’s premiers, she had a brief photo opportunity with him. Smith offered a hesitant hand below waist level, which the prime minister then took and held with his thumb on top before photographers.
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The update from the premier may include her recent meeting with Trudeau and the health care funding proposed Tuesday.
The meeting with premiers included the federal government’s proposed health funding deal, which would see funding of $196 billion to provinces over 10 years in exchange for commitments to massively upgrade healthcare data collection and digital medical records.
Before making the update known, her press secretary shared a statement Tuesday, which included Smith meeting with premiers François Legault of Quebec and Scott Moe of Saskatchewan before the health care update.
The three premiers discussed “provincial jurisdiction over health delivery” and the “mutual importance of the energy sector” for job growth and for export.
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Smith penned a letter to the prime minister in January to discuss recent federal plans, saying major initiatives announced should include consultation with the province.
She has also accused Trudeau of trying to destroy Alberta’s oil and gas industry with the Just Transition legislation. During the photo op, however, she said “common ground” can be found if they collaborate.
The last time Smith spoke with the public was on Jan. 12. She said she had been talking directly to Crown prosecutors about her concerns over prosecutions of people accused of violating COVID-29 health restrictions but then said her words were “imprecise.”
Since then, multiple reports have come out alleging her staff has spoken with Crown prosecutors. However, the premier and the Justice Department have delivered different accounts of what happened, clarifying she has not done so.
-With files from The Canadian Press
