Alberta NDP calls on Premier Smith to cancel appearance with Ben Shapiro
Posted March 10, 2025 3:05 pm.
Premier Danielle Smith’s upcoming speaking appearance with conservative media personality Ben Shapiro is being criticized by the Opposition in Alberta.
Calling Shapiro an “extremist,” Alberta New Democrat Leader Naheed Nenshi says Smith should cancel her meeting with the popular American personality.
Smith is scheduled to speak at a March 27 fundraiser for Florida-based PragerU, a conservative content company that describes itself as an educational media platform devoted to furthering U.S. values.
Its content, which a number of U.S. states have approved for use in schools, has been criticized for downplaying the harms of slavery and climate change while distorting historic events.
“For $1,500 USD a ticket, Danielle Smith will share the stage with a man who said Arabs ‘live in open sewage,’ blamed a young Black man for his own murder, insulted trans people endlessly, and has denied climate change repeatedly,” Nenshi said in a statement. “The organization she is helping to fundraise for has questioned the history of slavery in the United States.
“This American speaking tour won’t reduce Trump tariffs, but it will send a signal to Albertans that Danielle Smith is focused on her extremist base, not on them.”
Shapiro, the conservative commentator and podcaster who founded the Daily Wire, has referred to Canada as the 51st state of the U.S. — echoing President Donald Trump’s comments.
Nenshi says it would be “despicable” for Smith to speak at the event.
“At a time when Canadians are encouraged to spend their tourism dollars in Canada and the Governor of Florida is insulting tourists from Canada, Danielle Smith will be fundraising for a far-right online platform with extremist Ben Shapiro,” Nenshi said.
“Danielle Smith should cancel this event immediately and focus on Albertans’ priorities, not those of her extremist friends.”
Smith’s office says the event gives her an opportunity to share Canada’s message with an influential U.S. audience as the trade war between the two countries continues.
–With files from The Canadian Press
