Danielle Smith declines to give specifics on 'mistakes' referenced in Alberta address
Premier Danielle Smith said last week that she is "far from perfect" and can "make mistakes" – but has declined to give further details about what specifically she was referring to.
Smith was asked to clarify her remarks at a government news conference in Edmonton on Monday, a transcription of her response is as follows:
CTV News: "In your TV address last week you said you've made mistakes and you've taken controversial opinions, many of which have evolved. Can you be specific about those mistakes and how you're learning from them?"
Smith: "Can you be specific about what you'd like to ask me about?"
CTV News: "Some of the mistakes you're referring to?"
Smith: "If you've got an example, please…."
CTV News: "That's what I'm asking."
Smith: "I'm asking you for an example."
CTV News: "I'm asking what you would have been referring to."
Smith: "Well, you know, I'm looking at the issues as they come up today. I've got a new job and I'm going to make sure that every issue that comes forward goes through my caucus and cabinet so that we've got consensus as a party on how to move forward on things. That's just the process that we go through. I've got a different job now, and that's what I'm going to do."
In her pre-recorded address to Albertans last Tuesday, Smith said having spent decades in media and hosting talk shows, she discussed "hundreds of different topics" and sometimes took "controversial positions," saying "many of which have evolved or changed" as she's grown.
"I know I'm not a talk show host or a media commentator any longer. That's not my job today. My job today is to serve each and every Albertan with everything I have, and to the best of my ability, however imperfect that may be at times," she said.
Smith added that when she is wrong or makes a mistake, she will "look to follow the example of our dear departed friend – Premier Ralph Klein – admit to it, learn from it and get back to work."
Smith's first month in office has been a rocky one, not only because of controversial comments she's made since becoming premier – but also because of comments she made in the past.
From saying cancer patients can do more to prevent their disease from progressing to Stage 4, to referring to unvaccinated people as the "most discriminated group" she's witnessed in her lifetime, to seemingly justifying Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Smith has upset many Albertans across the political spectrum with her statements.
She's since walked back comments made about those three topics, but didn't specify Monday if those were the "mistakes" she was referencing in her speech.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.