Former UCP MLA targets Premier Smith in scathing new letter

A former Alberta cabinet minister who has been jabbing the government is going after Premier Danielle Smith, now throwing a bomb in the form of a scathing open letter over the healthcare contracts scandal, the budget, and questioning the premier’s commitment to keeping Alberta in Canada.

Peter Guthrie, now an independent member of the legislature after he was kicked out of the UCP caucus last week, says an investigation called by Smith’s government into multimillion-dollar health contracts looks like a “whitewashing” exercise.

In a public letter, Guthrie says among other problems, the terms of the third-party probe are so narrow that it will be tough to get to the heart of what happened.

“Under Premier Smith’s leadership, the identity of the UCP is eroding just as quickly as its commitment to fiscal responsibility, accountable government, and justice,” the Airdrie-Cochrane MLA wrote.

Guthrie quit Smith’s cabinet and was expelled from the governing United Conservative caucus last week over his public concerns about the contracts.

The former head of Alberta Health Services is suing the government, saying she was fired for investigating allegations of political meddling and questionable costs in the contracts.

“I think it is the old adage, if you can’t come to terms on something, if you love something, let it go. So, now he is free to do what he needs to do,” said Shane Getson, Chief Government WHIP.

Guthrie also says the Premier is hurting the Conservatives’ chances in the federal election.

Duane Bratt, a political scientist from Mount Royal University, says Guthrie has nothing left to lose. He agrees with Guthrie that Smith’s national unity crisis threat is bad for Pierre Poilievre’s campaign.

The Premier has been on a trade mission in Japan and South Korea since Friday.

“I don’t know if Poilievre sent her to Japan, but that was a good strategy to do so, because she is hurting the Conservatives every time she talks about national unity crisis. This definitely hurts her in the rest of Canada,” Bratt said.

A spokesperson for the Premier responded to the letter by saying, “MLA Peter Guthrie is entitled to hold and voice his own opinions. The Premier has stated on multiple occasions that she and our UCP Caucus support a strong and sovereign Alberta within a United Canada.”

CityNews reached out to Guthrie for an interview on Thursday, but he declined. But, in his riding of Airdrie-Cochrane, several residents told CityNews they still support him as he takes on the UCP.

One person said, “I would stand behind him 100 per cent because he is absolutely correct, and it is time someone stood up to her (Smith).” Another person said, “It takes someone to lead and speak up against these things, otherwise, we are never going to get any change in any parts of our system.”

The controversy is not going anywhere as the first investigation results are not expected in two weeks. The politicking should heat up again on Monday as MLAs return to the legislature from their constituency break.

– With files from Canadian Press