ENOCH CREE NATION, Alta.—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith emphasized caucus unity at the United Conservative Party’s (UCP) first annual general meeting on Oct. 22 following her leadership victory.
In the 10 days since she became premier, Smith said she’s been quiet as she works to unify the caucus ahead of a spring general election.
“Our team is now unified,” she said at the convention, held at the River Cree Resort near Edmonton. “Our team is now ready to fight for Albertans, and come hell or high water, we are going to beat the NDP in 2023.”
Smith also offered an apology for any government employees who were let go because of refusing COVID-19 vaccination.
“I welcome them back, if they want to come back,” she told reporters.
Smith said she is seeking legal advice on whether she can pardon people who were fined for non-criminal violations of COVID-19 restrictions.
“The things that come to top of mind for me are people who got arrested as pastors [and] people given fines for not wearing masks,” she said.New Cabinet
Smith won the UCP leadership race earlier this month on the sixth and final ballot, and was sworn in as Alberta’s 19th premier on Oct. 11.
The premier named her new cabinet on Oct. 21, granting ministerial roles to five of her six leadership opponents.
Smith’s main rival in the leadership race, former premier Jason Kenney’s finance minister Travis Toews, is keeping his former portfolio in the new cabinet, while Brian Jean was made minister of jobs, economy, and northern development. Rebecca Schulz was named minister of municipal affairs, Todd Loewen was given the forestry, parks, and tourism portfolio, while Rajan Sawhney was made minister of trade, immigration, and multiculturalism. Leela Aheer, who was the first to fall off the ballot in the leadership race, was not given a portfolio.
