Alberta Premier Smith, with election looming, announces new limits on media questions
Four days after announcing that he would not answer questions about ethics investigations, Alberta Prime Minister Daniel Smith said he would limit questions on all other topics.
Smith told reporters in Calgary on Friday that he would only allow one question at a press conference and no traditional follow-up questions.
When asked why, she replied:
“We’re getting into election mode, and a lot of people (and we) want to answer a lot of questions.”
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Elections are not due to officially start in the next two weeks, and Mr Smith said not at a United Conservative Party event, but the availability of government-funded media to announce a new panel to address multicultural issues. launched a new rule.
The opposition NDP responded quickly and promised to answer all questions raised to them, including follow-up.
“Leaders get asked, it’s part of the job,” said NDP Leader Rachel Notley on social media.
“If Daniel Smith isn’t willing to explain herself to Albertans, she shouldn’t be a premiere. Albertans deserve better.”
Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nensi participated in social media.
“Guys, this is really wrong,” said Nenshi. “This is a government announcement, not an election announcement.
“Answering questions, no matter how difficult, is part of the job — why did I do Scrum almost every day?
“Not answering means you are hiding something or the staff is scared of what you say.”
Some political scientists say the changes are being made to avoid accountability, especially given that Smith had a phone call with Calgary street chaplain Art Pawlowski about criminal trials at the time. Stated.
They said follow-up questions to politicians were very important. Because they are typically used to clarify gaps or assumptions, or to challenge the content of the first answer if necessary.
“Follow-up questions allow reporters to do two things. You can do it,” says University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley.
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Wesley said it will ultimately come down to whether voters have concerns about Smith’s one-question policy. He’s been a questionable election strategy for Smith, whose UCP has seen voters’ concerns about Smith’s credibility rise as polls suggest stiff competition ahead of her May 29 election day. He said he was suggesting something.
“If you have accountability issues, the answer is not to make yourself less accountable. The answer is to make yourself more transparent. Yes,’ said Wesley.
He also said the move opens the door for Nottley to answer any media questions and polish her image as a credible and confident leader, while portraying Smith as an evader. also said.
“It plays into the negative brand element of[Smith]being someone who avoids accountability,” Wesley said.
Political scientist Lori Williams says follow-up questions are key to getting the answers voters need, and the new rule is part of Smith’s avoidance pattern.
“We’re seeing the latest in a string of attempts to keep the prime minister from answering questions,” said Williams of Mount Royal University in Calgary.
She cited Smith’s announcement earlier in the week that the prime minister would not answer questions about a phone investigation with Pawlowski.
In the call, Smith shared inside information while offering to conduct an investigation on his behalf ahead of his trial regarding COVID-19 protests at the Canadian-US border crossing in Coutts, Alta. I heard you doing
“It’s becoming a pattern associated with this government and the prime minister. She will have various reasons for not answering questions and, paradoxically, will say it is because this is the (next) election.
“Rather than reinforcing trust and confidence in leaders, this is causing more doubts about trust.”
Legal experts say Smith broke a democratic guardrail that prohibits politicians from interfering in certain trials over Pawlowski’s phone.
Smith says she’s done nothing wrong because it’s her job as a politician to talk to voters.
Smith’s office said Monday that ethics commissioner Marguerite Trusler is investigating whether the phone calls interfered with the administration of justice.
“It’s becoming a pattern associated with this government and the prime minister. She will have various reasons for not answering questions and paradoxically say it’s because this is the (next) election,” Williams said. I got
“Rather than reinforcing trust and confidence in leaders, this is causing more doubts about trust.”
Legal experts say Smith broke a democratic guardrail that prohibits politicians from interfering in certain trials over Pawlowski’s phone.
Read more: Alberta Prime Minister Daniel Smith’s Timeline and COVID Trial Controversy
Smith says she’s done nothing wrong because it’s her job as a politician to talk to voters.
Smith’s office said Monday that ethics commissioner Marguerite Trusler is investigating whether the phone calls interfered with the administration of justice.
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