(Edmonton) Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Saturday expanded her new policy of restricting media questions to limit not only questions from reporters, but also those from the media.
Mme Smith told her Corus radio show that not only are individual reporters now limited to one question at press conferences — as announced on Friday — but that she will not accept more than one question in total from of a press organ during an event.
Mme Smith reiterated that she needed to limit the questions in order to provide more answers.
“Each outlet will have one question instead of two during this campaign period because I need to make sure we reach as many people as possible,” said Ms.me Smith on the show Your Province Your Premier.
“In this way, we will be able to reach more media, because the election campaign will generate much more interest. »
The senior adviser to M.me Smith, Rob Anderson, confirmed the change in a statement on Twitter, writing that Mme Smith will answer one question per media outlet and press conference for six weeks, so he can speak to more media during the upcoming election period.
The electoral campaign must be launched on 1er May and the poll will take place on May 29, but politicians on both sides are already hard at work, knocking on doors, making promises and criticizing each other.
Leader of the Opposition, New Democrat Rachel Notley, promised to answer as many questions as possible, including follow-up questions, adding that if Mrs.me Smith doesn’t want to answer questions, she shouldn’t be prime minister.
Reporters from major news outlets often have more than one reporter attending M’s press conferences.me Smith to ask questions on a variety of topics specific to their specialty or on which they work.
Traditionally, they ask a main question and a follow-up question.
These follow-up questions are considered essential to allow journalists to clarify the first answer if necessary and to hold politicians to account who do not answer the first question, but simply state talking points that have not only related to the question.
Mme Smith used the “one question, no follow-up” technique with reporters on Friday and then with listeners to his radio show on Saturday.
Friday, M.me Smith was asked to reconcile conflicting comments in which she speaks favorably of Art Pawlowski, a street pastor from Calgary, while disavowing his “extremist views.” Art Pawlowski has made headlines for protesting COVID-19 health measures and the LGBTQ+ community.
Mme Smith said she speaks out against all forms of intolerance. There was no follow-up.
We asked M.me Smith what role the center-right populist group Take Back Alberta will play in his campaign. Take Back Alberta has a growing influence within the party, supporting half of the council members and getting involved in riding associations and candidate nominations.
Mr. Smith responded that the United Conservative Party is an open, “one member, one vote” party where everyone has a say. No follow-up was given.
On his Saturday show, a caller named Jeff, who described himself as a longtime supporter of the United Conservative Party, asked Ms.me Smith to take stock of conflicting statements about health policy.
In response, M.me Smith accused the NDP of trying to cover their tracks and reminded Jeff that his government is working to create health spending accounts for uninsured services such as dentists and therapists.
Callers to the show aren’t usually allowed follow-up questions, but one caller who called on Saturday to ask about electricity costs managed to ask one main question and two follow-up questions. .
Mme Smith faced questions about her stance on health after announcing this week that her government would not allow out-of-pocket payment for health care, despite her advocating, in a published guidance document in 2021, a new model including payment for a family doctor, co-payments for surgeries and possibly private hospitals.
Another listener categorically asked Mme Smith if she still sticks to her 2021 take on health.
“I don’t believe a leopard changes its spots, so let me ask you the question directly: do you categorically reject what you have written in this document? Yes or no ? Please don’t give a mirror type response to the larks,” the message read, read aloud by the host.
Mme Smith didn’t answer with a yes or no, but instead brought up healthcare spending accounts.
In addition to limiting the questions, Mr.me Smith also announced this week that she would not comment on the ongoing investigation by the province’s ethics commissioner.
M’s officeme Smith said Ethics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler is trying to determine if Ms.me Smith interfered with the workings of justice by conferring with the accused about his case before his criminal trial.
In this call, we hear Mr.me Smith offered to do research on behalf of the accused while telling him that the charges against him were politically motivated, adding that she shares her concerns about the way Crown prosecutors conduct cases related to the COVID-19 measures.