Alberta NDP refuses Danielle Smith’s request for apology over CBC report

The Alberta NDP says it will not apologize to Premier Danielle Smith following a retraction of a report from CBC alleging someone in Smith’s office emailed Crown prosecutors to question and challenge the handling of cases involving COVID-19 protests in Alberta that blocked traffic at a U.S. border crossing for more than two weeks.

In a statement released Thursday, Justice, Public Safety & Emergency Services Critic Irfan Sabir reiterated that Smith was found to have violated the Conflicts of Interest Act in her interaction with then-Attorney General Tyler Shandro on the matter in a May 17 Ethics Commissioner report.

“Danielle Smith herself was caught on tape admitting to being in contact with Crown prosecutors and putting pressure on them to drop the charges against Artur Pawlowski, a known extremist who was later convicted of inciting violence against police during the illegal Coutts border blockade,” he said. “I’m not issuing an apology.

“I am reissuing my demand over the past several months for a fully independent investigation into all matters of UCP political interference in our justice system.”

CBC made the announcement Wednesday in an unsigned editor’s note atop an amended online version of the original Jan. 19 story.

“Our sources have insisted that Crown prosecutors felt political pressure regarding the Coutts (Alta.) cases, but they are not able to confirm that the emails they originally described were sent directly from the premier’s office to the Crown,” said the editor’s note.

Read more: CBC retracts report alleging email interference by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s office

“As such, we have updated this story and related pieces, removing references to direct contact between the premier’s office and prosecutors — which the premier has vehemently denied.

“CBC News regrets reporting direct contact by email.”

In a tweet posted early Wednesday evening, Smith said she has been “vindicated.”

“Journalism is an integral part of our society, and all I’ve ever asked for is fair, accurate and balanced coverage,” her tweet reads.

“After months of the CBC reporting interference between my office and Crown prosecutors, today CBC news removed references to direct contact between my office and prosecutors and ‘regrets’ reporting direct contact by email.

“Now that CBC has expressed regret for its inaccurate reporting and Albertans know the truth, I consider the matter with the CBC closed.”

The premier is asking the NDP to acknowledge the error and is asking the party to retract and apologize for “spreading misinformation.”

The Opposition concluded its statement by saying that it has also written to the RCMP requesting it investigate Smith’s actions.

“Trust in our justice system has been eroded and this premier is to blame,” it said. “If she has nothing to hide, she will agree to an independent investigation today.”

–With files from Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press, and Alejandro Melgar