CALGARY—Media personality Danielle Smith, one of the fiercest critics of Jason Kenney’s pandemic restrictions, will replace him as premier of Alberta. Smith’s victory means Kenney will hand his job to one of his harshest critics, who has repeatedly condemned public health measures. In her speech Smith took immediate aim at Ottawa and said it’s time for Alberta to be a “senior” partner in the country. Smith came close to the premier’s chair a decade ago when her former party, with deep roots in libertarian-leaning rural Alberta, came within spitting distance of victory in the 2012 provincial election. He became leader of the UCP in 2017 and then led that party to a sweeping majority two years later.

Source: thestar October 07, 2022 03:04 UTC