Danielle Smith says Alberta will withhold funding for judges without more input on selection

Premier Smith’s claims that Alberta has no say in the selection of judges is false. She’s basically got a hatchet, and she’s pummelling the Justice System with it.

https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/ccs-ajc/05.html

https://albertacourts.ca/cj/about-the-court/judicial-information/judicial-appointments

Premier Smith has a background in legacy media, and may be trying to steer the news cycle away from recent reports suggesting that her decisions are killing Albertans in hospitals due to her policy choices, and that she’s been attacking the healthcare system at the expense of society. Without going into the CorruptCare contracts that involve Sam Mraiche, the Premier’s life is messy, and complicated.

https://canadahealthwatch.ca/2026/02/01/deaths-in-er-waiting-rooms-are-a-policy-choice

https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/02/03/Danielle-Smith-AHS-Firing-Spree/

Smith’s Been Attacking the Justice System For A While Now

1

Smith’s been consolidating power into the UCP and herself, and her attacks on the justice system are not limited to judges. The UCP’s interfered with courts to cover up for AIMCo.

https://kopitalk.net/c/alberta/p/93282/alberta-tries-to-legislate-ban-on-lawsuits-about-aimco-losses

2

She’s run legislation to get ahead of court decisions on Alberta’s Citizen Initiative Act

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-judge-proposed-referendum-unconstitutional-9.7004982

3

Danielle’s UCP consolidated power into how Justice System adjacent support services are run and funded by sacking the Alberta Law Foundation Board members. However one characterizes the way in which the board members left, the ultimate result is still a ransacking.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/law-foundation-staff-resignations-9.7049236

4

The UCP may appear too involved (despite statements to the contrary) with the terminations of two career Crown prosecutors, attacking the appearance of an independent prosecution service.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-crown-attorneys-association-edmonton-chief-crown-employment-9.6986908

5

The UCP have invoked the Notwithstanding Clause repeatedly to avoid legitimate Charter challenges.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/alberta-legislature-passes-bill-invoking-charter-override-for-fourth-time/

6

Smith directly voiced support for EPS Chief Warren Driechel when the Chief penned a letter to news media to interfere with the Crown Prosecution’s file. At that moment, the EPS interfered with the Judicial Independence of the court, and the independence of the Crown who has complete decision-making authority over their file.

You see, police serve an important role to enforce the laws. They wear different hats at different times, and as far as courts are concerned they can be public office holders when they decide when and whom to target for investigation and arrest (which makes the news some times for bad reasons), and they’re agents of the state under different roles. Police also enjoy their own independence, subject to their own boards which tie them back to the community (ideally).

When Kaycee Madu controversially reached out to former EPS Chief McFee, Madu obviously crossed red lines for police independence.

When Smith voiced support for the EPS letter, she interfered with the independence of all three justice system participants. But, bizarrely, since she has a history of being a mercenary and a media personality, Smith wasn’t subjected to review (yet) or any discipline. EPS Chief Driechel though, should be subject to review and potential discipline because he should know better. Similarly, EPS lawyer Megan Hankewich, also in a position to know better, and should be subjected to a review.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-plea-deal-police-1.7634783

Alberta Law Foundation sees 2 directors removed, mass resignation in wake of new government powers

Justice Minister Mickey Amery is attacking the foundations upon which the Justice System is built upon with a series of power grabs on behalf of the same UCP members responsible for bringing Albertans CorruptCare.

Albertans will recall that Justice Minister Mickey Amery has close ties with the infamous Sam Mraiche, and the CorruptCare Scandal. I would note that the Scandal, and its subsequent damage to the Alberta Healthcare system, continues to rock Albertans to this very day. Worse, those implicated in the Scandal continue in key roles of government.

The Minister may now be seen grabbing for power from within the Alberta Law Foundation, an organization that notably handles the funding for many Justice system adjacent services that include Women’s Shelters, Pro Bono legal advice, and other support systems that are intended to help the vulnerable seek further help.

What is troubling here is this statement:

Jenkins’s statement said the Law Society of Alberta made its decision to replace their foundation board representatives “entirely independent of the government.” She added that the ministry believes the foundation will provide an update in the coming days about the steps it’s recently taken.

Now remember earlier in Nov 2025 when two senior Crown prosecutors were also suddenly sacked without notice. I suggest that Minister Amery carried out the same attack:

“The recent actions of the government highlight the need for our members to have employment protections that insulate them from losing their employment without articulated cause,” the statement says.

“Without this protection, Crown prosecutors are susceptible to being dismissed from their employment for improper reasons.”

At the legislature on Thursday, Justice Minister Mickey Amery said there was “no government involvement whatsoever” in the senior Crowns’ departures. He said Dale McFee, the former Edmonton police chief who is now head of the Alberta Public Service, also “had absolutely nothing to do” with it.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-crown-attorneys-association-edmonton-chief-crown-employment-9.6986908

Dale McFee, of course, was also tied to Sam Mraiche.

https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/02/14/AHS-Scandal-How-Tight-Dale-McFee-Sam-Mraiche/