The Alberta NDP and some experts are saying there needs to be an independent review of emails between the premier’s office and Crown prosecutors, following allegations that a member of Premier Danielle Smith’s staff spoke to the Crown prosecutor about 2021 related lawsuits. Send email to the office. Coutt’s Blockade.
CBC claimed this on Thursday That email was exchanged with the premier’s office and crown prosecutors, but was not seen by the CBC itself.
During the Saturday morning show on 630 CHED, Your Province, Your PremierSmith said his office has an IT department that is looking through email among his 34 employees and about 400 prosecutors “to see whether or not this email is referencing the CBC.”
She said they should have the results early next week.
“As soon as we see that the emails are there, then we’ll make sure we have a presentation for the public.”
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Smith first said during a January 12 news conference that she had been in contact with Crown prosecutors, then denied comment on a radio show a few days later, saying she had used “foul language” at the time. The latter’s story has stuck to him ever since.
A spokesperson for the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service told Global News that “neither the assistant deputy minister of the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service nor the Crown prosecutor involved in the Coutts files have any recollection of ever receiving an email from the premier’s office.”
A special caucus meeting is being held on Saturday evening, with all Alberta MLAs attending.
“I want my caucus to understand the nature of this story,” Smith said. “The fact that (CBC) … doesn’t have the emails – they launched with the story, now we’ve got to verify that. I want my caucus to be patient while we go through this process.”
Edmonton-Whitemood MLA Rahki Pancholi said emergency caucus meetings have become common in Alberta under the UCP government.
“This is a group of people who are completely caught up in their own internal drama and are creating chaos after chaos, and disaster after disaster needs to be addressed urgently, rather than the issues that matter to Albertans. are pressing for.”
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Political scientist Duane Bratt said he has no doubt that there is “caucus unrest” on the issue given the number of scandals involving the premier, “almost all of them related to COVID.”
He said the NDP has been demanding this investigation before the news came out in the media. And it was only because Smith had correspondence with the Attorney General regarding these allegations.
Some Albertans, as well as the opposition government, have made clear over the past few days that the internal review is not enough, Pancholi said.
“These are very serious allegations. We are talking about political interference in serious allegations which pertain to weapons, conspiracy to commit murder against police officers. These are very serious allegations which require a serious response from this government. An email review done internally is not going to cut it,” Pancholi said.
He added that a comprehensive review is also needed as the premier’s story about this political interference has changed several times.
“It’s not just about whether an email was sent or not … We need to look at who knew what was going on, who was instructed, what was communicated, who authorized it.” did, and how far has it gone.”
Bratt said, “If nothing had happened there, I don’t think you would be having this emergency meeting.”
“But it is also very possible that an employee may be using a personal email address, which should not be done, but complicates the investigation.”
Bratt said that any staffer who is contacting crown prosecutors should be fired, but that if the premier is involved, she will be in trouble and people should demand her resignation.
– With files from Chris Chacon and Phil Heidenreich, Global News
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