Innuendo and slander’: Alberta legislature erupts after questions about Premier Smith’s husband

Alberta’s premier was red hot at one of her former cabinet ministers during question period at the Alberta legislature Tuesday.

Peter Guthrie, an MLA who was kicked out of the UCP caucus last month, began asking questions about Premier Danielle Smith’s husband, David Moretta, and his presence at meetings about a railway megaproject.

“Besides registering as a lobbyist, it is essential to reveal insider relationships,” said Guthrie, the independent MLA for Airdrie-Cochrane. “To the premier, has your husband ever been a registered lobbyist while you were premier, and if so, for what purpose?”

“He has never, ever been registered as a lobbyist because he has never, ever lobbied any government, including ours, and I would ask for any innuendo and the slander to stop,” Smith replied.

Last year, The Tyee reported Moretta attended a government meeting with a private company about a megaproject to build a train line from Calgary to Banff.

Guthrie also says there are rumours Moretta was given confidential documents on the project.

“As minister of infrastructure, I was invited to attend a meeting with David Moretta about Banff Rail and I declined because I had concerns about the appropriateness of such a meeting,” Guthrie claimed.

Smith characterized Guthrie’s comments as defamatory.

“I’ve been tired of the rumours and the innuendo and slander against my family that I have been hearing about for months,” she said.

A point of order was called on Guthrie.

“I would also challenge that member to take this line of questioning outside the chamber and see where it lands out there,” said House Leader Joseph Schow. “This is out of line, it’s disgusting, and there should be an apology given to the premier and her family.”

That exchange then drew another point of order against Schow himself.

“Although I may be inexperienced parliamentary-wise, I am experienced in what challenging someone to a fight sounds like and this certainly falls within that language,” said Scott Sinclair, the MLA for Lesser Slave Lake.

“It’s important members feel safe to be able to question this government.”

Both Guthrie and Schow withdrew their comments, and Schow apologized.

In a statement, the premier’s office said Smith’s husband has attended a few meetings, but insisted he is not lobbying for anything.

“Premier Danielle Smith and her husband share a long-standing enthusiasm for rail as an efficient form of transportation for goods and people. They often discuss different ways expanded passenger rail services could benefit the province,” it said.

“As a former member of the media with subject matter knowledge of the Alberta high-speed rail debate, the premier values his opinion on the issue.”

Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, said it is unusual for spouses of elected officials to attend government meetings and said the premier should admit it was a mistake.

“What is the spouse of the premier doing at a meeting? I suppose we would all like to have attend cabinet meetings because we’re interested in something, but we don’t have that kind of access, nor should we,” Williams told CityNews.

Guthrie offered no proof Wednesday that Moretta has anything to gain by going to meetings, but repeated that this whole situation is bad for government trust.

“When confronted with legitimate questions, I was met with anger, hostility and threats,” the MLA said.

The premier’s office said Guthrie is using the protected privilege of the legislature to slander MLAs and their families.