After winning the leadership of the United Conservative Party, thereby becoming premier-designate of Alberta, Danielle Smith returned to the electoral campaign to be elected as a member of Parliament and be able to sit in the Legislative Assembly.
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Freshly elected last Thursday to the highest office in the province, Ms.me Smith must now win over the voters of the riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat, since she is not yet an MP.
She made the announcement on Saturday, the day after the resignation of Michaela Frey, who had served as an MP since 2019.
Mme Smith preferred to run in this rather rural riding even though a seat has been vacant since last August in the riding of Calgary-Elbow after the departure of the former Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, Doug Schweitzer.
Her main rival on the provincial scene, the NDP leader in Alberta, Rachel Notley, was quick to attack her on this decision.
“She may feel more comfortable in a rural riding, but once you become premier you are a representative of the province including cities,” she wrote on Twitter. “By not calling the by-election in Calgary-Elbow, she is telling these voters that they are not worthy of a vote in the Legislative Assembly.”
Recall that Danielle Smith obtained 53.8% of the vote in Thursday evening’s election, succeeding Prime Minister Jason Kenney, who resigned from his post last spring after narrowly winning his vote of confidence.
The transfer of power will take place on October 11, allowing Mme Smith to become the 19e Premier of Alberta.