Smith says she urged minister to consider whether COVID prosecutions could succeed in third version of story

Smith says she urged minister to consider whether COVID prosecutions could succeed in third version of storyEDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has delivered a third version of what she discussed with justice officials over how to handle the prosecution of people charged with breaking COVID-19 health rules. Prosecutors, under departmental guidelines, are already aware that these are the overarching principles to consider before pursuing any case. “I wanted to ask them if they had looked at these cases in that light,” Smith told her radio show. “They confirmed that that is the measure that Crown prosecutors use when they’re looking at these cases: reasonable likelihood of conviction (and) if it’s in the public interest. Smith also told Rebel News she was talking to prosecutors directly, but this week Smith and the Justice Department said no such discussions occurred.