For the sake of Alberta and Canada overall, let’s hope Danielle Smith remains as UCP leader and Alberta Premier. Pictured: Premier Danielle Smith. Photo Credit: Danielle Smith/X.
On November 1 and 2, the United Conservative Party (UCP) of Alberta will be having its 2024 Annual General Meeting in Red Deer. This meeting will include a review of Premier Danielle Smith’s leadership, and rumblings are already beginning about some party members being dissatisfied with her leadership and planning some challenges at the meeting. Once again, it is looking like the UCP’s worst enemies are within its own ranks.
Smith became UCP leader in October 2022, following the party’s rejection of Jason Kenney, and was sworn in as Alberta Premier shortly thereafter on October 11. She subsequently won the provincial election in May 2023 with a slim margin of victory. She has been Premier for less than two years, yet has done a great deal in that short time to push back against a very anti-Alberta federal Liberal government and to promote Alberta’s vital role within Canada.
This author must state her bias up front. We worked together at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), when this author was President and she was the Alberta Director of Legislative Affairs. She always demonstrated a flair for economic policy, small “c” conservatism, economic and personal freedom and was a talented communicator. In addition, her love of Alberta was crystal clear and was the reason she re-entered politics in 2022 after a several-year absence.
Smith has certainly had her controversial moments throughout her career in politics and media. Most notable was her move to cross the floor of the Alberta Legislature as Wildrose Party leader in 2014 and join former premier Jim Prentice’s Progressive Conservatives, which understandably left many Wildrose Party members feeling very betrayed. That floor crossing led to splitting the conservative vote in the next election, which resulted in the NDP majority government of 2015, a first for Alberta and shocking to most conservatives.
In her time as Premier, Smith has stayed away from the contentious issues and has primarily promoted policies that appeal to the vast majority of Albertans. Her government has passed the Alberta Sovereignty Act, which remains legally untested but provides a challenge to the federal government to dare impose legislation on Alberta that would damage the provincial economy. She has put a pause on the wind and solar projects that have been costly and unreliable sources of energy. She has challenged the federal government legally and won – on such issues as Bill C-69, the so-called “no more pipelines” bill and the reversal of the federal government’s ban on many plastics. Smith has steadfastly defended the provinces oil and gas industry, one of the main drivers of the Canadian economy which has been hobbled by the Trudeau government. Her government has also provided leadership on the difficult opioid crisis, and is pursuing a different course than many other provinces, so far quite successfully.
Alberta has changed in recent years as well, with the migration of people from other parts of Canada and other countries that have increased the diversity of the province and moved its politics more to the centre. And therein lies the challenge – how to advocate for traditional Alberta’s conservative positions while still winning elections.
The contentious issues at stake at the upcoming leadership review are matters on which her challengers claim she made promises but has not delivered. This included things such as a separate Alberta pension plan apart from the CPP, an independent police force for the province, lower taxes and, in some cases, provincial separation from Canada. Considering that Smith has been Premier for less than two years, it’s a bit of a stretch to presume that such major issues could be advanced in such a short time. Asking for accountability is all well and good, but reality must also be a factor in people’s expectations.
As well, on extreme issues such as Alberta separation, opinion polls consistently show that the majority of Albertans do not support this option. Views are also mixed on the province breaking away from the CPP. It may well be that proceeding with these issues could alienate many Alberta voters and end up with the province electing another NDP government. Yet some of the UCP folks challenging Smith’s leadership often appear more interested in generating headlines for themselves personally rather than ensuring the party remains electable.
It’s also important to recognize the leadership role Smith has taken nationally in defending provincial jurisdiction and industries that benefit the whole country. The Trudeau government has demonstrated an unfortunate habit of intruding on provincial jurisdiction, notably on energy policy. Alberta under Smith has launched a number of legal challenges to contest this, and has won significant victories. This is to the benefit of all provinces in Canada. Notably, Saskatchewan has joined a number of these legal proceedings, and other provinces have also supported them in some instances. Alberta’s leadership has been an important factor in pushing back against inappropriate actions by the federal Liberals, and has undoubtedly discouraged the Liberals from interfering in even more areas of provincial authority.
Conservatives have a long history of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. All too often, factions within the party seem to value disruption over working to help Conservatives attain or remain in power. So far, Smith has successfully walked the tightrope between balancing the more extreme elements of her party with the interests of the majority of Albertans. She has accomplished a great deal in less than two years, and shows no signs of letting up in the pursuit of other goals to which she is committed. For the sake of Alberta and Canada overall, let’s hope Danielle Smith remains as UCP leader and Alberta Premier, opposing an incompetent and harmful federal Liberal government and endorsing policies that not only benefit Alberta, but Canada as a whole.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals.
