'I make mistakes,' Danielle Smith admits – but what are they?
In her address to Albertans on Tuesday, Premier Danielle Smith admitted she is "far from perfect" and said she can "make mistakes" – though she hasn't yet said which mistakes or positions she was referring to.
"Having spent decades in media and hosting talk shows I discussed hundreds of different topics and sometimes took controversial positions, many of which have evolved or changed as I've grown and learn from listening to you,” Smith said in her address.
"But 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."
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 hasn't spoken publicly since her Tuesday address, and hasn't issued further details.
On Thursday, CTV News reached out to the premier for clarification on what mistakes she was refering to, but hasn't heard back.
This article will be updated if and when we hear back.
SAYING SORRY
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 those back.
"She's not really apologizing for just the last month, she's been called out for things she's said as a journalist, a lobbyist, a political figure.... so she has ten years of some varying positions," said Lars Hallstrom, a political science professor at the University of Lethbridge.
"A lot of her positions don't necessarily resonate with voters."
Hallstrom says Smith needs to expand her support, not only beyond the UCP members that voted for her, but beyond the UCP party in general.
He says the typical Alberta voter used to support conservative parties by default, but Smith needs to recognize that has changed.
"I don't know how much grey area there is," Hallstrom said.
"The reality is, the majority of the population – 60 per cent of the population – is fundamentally opposed to your positions on health measures, budget, post secondary education, charter schools et. cetera."
In her speech Tuesday, Smith pledged $600 for eligible Albertans for inflation relief.
Hallstrom said that 60 per cent of Alberta is "not going to be persuaded by a $600 present."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hamas says latest ceasefire talks have ended. Israel vows military operation in 'very near future'
The latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks ended in Cairo after "in-depth and serious discussions,"{ the Hamas militant group said Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel again rejected.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
B.C. man wants homes for thousands of books he soon won't be able to read
In the 10 years since John William started to lose his vision, he's been finding new ways to enjoy his vast personal library.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc insists
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Bombarded with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse in Canada
In particular, messages that involve phishing — an attack where a scammer tries to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or sharing sensitive information — are on the rise.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.