EDMONTON – If Premier Danielle Smith continues to hide from Albertans today, then Deputy Premier Kaycee Madu must answer questions about Smith’s meddling in ongoing criminal prosecutions.
Yesterday the Alberta NDP revealed a leaked video showing Premier Smith and Coutts blockade supporter Artur Pawlowski discussing his criminal charges in January. During this call, Smith told Pawlowski she had expressed her dissatisfaction with these cases to the Deputy Attorney General, and also questioned prosecutors about cases “almost weekly” since she became Premier in October.
Smith also named her Executive Director of the Premier’s Office, Rob Anderson, as her point person “to move this along.”
“Albertans are rightly concerned about the independence of their justice system,” said Irfan Sabir, Alberta NDP Justice Critic. “For the Premier’s to take a phone call with someone awaiting trial for criminal charges and say that she will intervene on his behalf is completely unacceptable. Politicians do not and must never decide who is prosecuted and who is not.
“If Smith continues to hide in her office today, when Deputy Premier Madu faces the media today, he must answer the questions Albertans have,” Sabir said.
Some of the questions that Kaycee Madu must answer are:
Was he aware that the Premier was speaking with people awaiting trial for criminal charges?
Does he think it is appropriate that she is taking these calls?
Does he think that those arrested at Coutts should deserve amnesty?
After being removed as Attorney General following an independent investigation into his behaviour, does he believe an independent investigation of Smith’s behaviour is warranted?
Will he apologize to Alberta’s Crown Prosecutors for the Premier questioning their professionalism during her phone call with Pawlowski?
“These are only some of the questions the Premier’s unacceptable behaviour has raised,” Sabir said. “We shall see if Kaycee Madu takes this opportunity today or continues the Danielle Smith tactic of ducking responsibility.”
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