NDP challenges Alberta Premier Smith to explain whether she shares ‘extremist views’ | 24CA News
Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley says Premier Danielle Smith should clarify whether or not she shares the “extremist views” of Calgary avenue preacher Artur Pawlowski and people of “her key support group” Take Back Alberta.
“Albertans deserve to know whether they are on the verge of selecting a premier whose views are deeply extreme and offside with the opinions of the vast majority of Albertans,” Notley mentioned at a news convention in Grande Prairie, Alta., on Thursday.
“A number of the views espoused by Art Pawlowski, as well as many of the folks within Take Back Alberta who support him — who were (also) critical to Danielle Smith becoming leader of the (United Conservative Party) — are very concerning.”
Smith has mentioned the writ might be dropped in simply over two weeks for a provincial election on May 29.
The premier has made intermittent feedback over the previous week about her January telephone name with Pawlowski, through which they focus on his then-looming legal trial referring to costs arising from the Canada-United States border protest at Coutts, Alta., over COVID-19 well being restrictions.
Smith has answered some questions from reporters. But she has declined to answer others, citing the very fact she might sue the CBC over its protection and should respect the continuing investigation by ethics commissioner Marguerite Trussler, who’s trying into whether or not Smith violated the Conflicts of Interest Act with the Pawlowski name.
Pawlowski is a controversial determine in Alberta for his high-profile, disruptive demonstrations in opposition to the LGBTQ neighborhood and COVID-19 well being guidelines.
During the 11-minute name, Smith tells Pawlowski, “I’ve been watching your public advocacy for many years, so it’s nice to connect with you.”
However, on her call-in radio present Saturday, Smith mentioned, “Mr. Pawlowski holds some very extreme views that I disagree with completely.”
Read extra:
Timeline of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and controversy over COVID courtroom instances
Take Back Alberta is a right-centre populist group registered as a third-party advertiser with Elections Alberta. It was based and is run by longtime political organizer David Parker.
The group took root through the pandemic, rallying help amongst disaffected UCP members in opposition to then-leader and premier Jason Kenney over his authorities’s COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine guidelines.
Kenney introduced he was stepping down nearly a yr in the past, after receiving 51 per cent help in a celebration management overview. Take Back Alberta then helped rally the votes to place Smith within the high job final October following a celebration management race.
Since then, candidates endorsed by Take Back Alberta have gained seats to half the 18 voting positions on the UCP board. It’s additionally backing candidates on the constituency stage, in some instances mobilizing a whole lot to conferences.
Take Back Alberta believes within the primacy of particular person freedoms and is in opposition to well being restrictions whereas pushing for Alberta to say extra management over its owns affairs, via such initiatives as a provincial police drive, provincial tax assortment company and pension fund.
Political scientist Duane Bratt mentioned Parker is underselling Take Back Alberta’s rising affect throughout the governing get together and premier.
“David Parker himself has said that their position on the UCP executive is to hold Smith to account,” mentioned Bratt, with Mount Royal University in Calgary.
“I think they’re biding their time until after the election. But they’re getting candidates, they’re getting board nominations. The great insight of David Parker was to take over a party from within.
“They’re the power behind the throne.”
Parker, in an interview, mentioned he has by no means spoken to Pawlowski and disagrees along with his techniques, significantly when Pawlowski (was seen on video) tried to rally Coutts protesters to lengthen the standoff by evaluating their protest to the legendary final stand and slaughter on the Alamo in Texas in 1836.
“Power behind the throne? I’m not sure what that means,” Parker mentioned.
“Does it mean that we are puppet masters? Absolutely not. I’m part of a third-party advertiser. I can’t even show up and door knock for a party (in an election).
“People say, ‘David is trying to take over the province.’ I’m just telling people to show up at meetings where they get a vote. That’s it.”
He added that his group’s plan is to mobilize individuals who agree with its political views to get out to vote.
“We think that the NDP are very dangerous to our values.”
© 2023 The Canadian Press
