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.
5
The UCP have invoked the Notwithstanding Clause repeatedly to avoid legitimate Charter challenges.
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
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