Global Courant 2023-04-16 07:03:29
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Saturday expanded her new media inquiry restriction policy to limit inquiries not only from reporters, but from media outlets as well.
Smith told her Corus call-in radio show that not only are individual reporters now limited to one question at press conferences — as announced Friday — she also won’t accept more than one question in total from a single newscast at an event.
Smith reiterated that she needs to set limits on questions in order to provide more answers.
“Each media outlet gets one question instead of two as we’re in this period of the campaign because I just need to make sure we reach as many people as possible,” Smith said on Your Province Your Premier in response to one main question and two follow-up questions from the show host.
“(This way) we can reach more media outlets because when we get into the election campaign there will be a lot more interest.”
Smith’s chief adviser, Rob Anderson, confirmed the change in a statement on Twitter, saying the change would allow more news outlets to ask questions during the upcoming election period.
More deliberately misleading headlines – she takes 1 question per media outlet per press conference for 6 weeks so she can reach more outlets during the upcoming election period. Albertans should prepare for continued bias in the mainstream media over the next 6 weeks. https://t.co/WIvzJY5kcP
Election expected on May 29
The subpoena is supposed to be dropped on May 1 for an election day on May 29, but politicians from both sides are already on the move, knocking on doors, making promises and criticizing each other.
Opposition leader Rachel Notley’s NDP has promised to answer as many questions as possible, including follow-ups. Notley says if Smith won’t answer questions then she shouldn’t be prime minister.
Reporters for larger news outlets often have more than one reporter who calls or attends Smith’s press conferences to ask questions about a variety of topics that are unique to their beats or unique to stories they are working on.
Traditionally, they are given a main question and a follow-up.
Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley addresses the Calgary Chamber of Commerce in Calgary on Dec. 15, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Follow-up questions are considered crucial to enable reporters to clarify the first answer if necessary and to hold politicians and officials accountable if they fail to answer the first question but instead provide tangentially related talking points.
Smith applied the one-question-no-follow technique with reporters on Friday and again with listeners on her radio show on Saturday.
Smith questioned about support for pastor
On Friday, Smith was asked to reconcile conflicting comments in which she speaks positively of Calgary street pastor Art Pawlowski, but also distances himself from his “extremist views.” Pawlowski has made headlines for protesting COVID restrictions and comments related to the LGBTQ community.
Smith said she denounces all forms of bigotry. There was no follow-up.
Smith was asked what role the right-wing populist group Take Back Alberta will play in her campaign. Take Back Alberta has growing influence within the party, supporting half of the party board members and getting involved in constituencies and candidate nominations.
Smith replied that the UCP has an open “one member, one vote” party where everyone has a say. No follow-up.
Danielle Smith, right, during her time as Wildrose Alliance leader, speaks to reporters, as then-MLA Rob Anderson looks on in Calgary in 2011. (The Canadian Press)
On her Saturday show, a caller named Jeff, who described himself as a longtime UCP supporter, asked Smith to reconcile conflicting health policy statements.
Smith, in response, accused the NDP of clouding the issue and reminded Jeff that her administration is working to create health spending bills for uninsured services such as dentists and therapists.
Callers to the show don’t traditionally get follow-up questions, but a Saturday caller asking about electricity costs squeezed in a main question and two follow-up questions.
Smith faced questions about where she stands on health after announcing this week that her government will not allow cash payments for care, despite Smith calling for a new model, including paying, in a 2021 policy document. for a general practitioner, surgery co-paid and perhaps private hospitals.
Another listener categorically asked Smith in a text if she still stands by her views on health for 2021.
“I don’t believe a leopard changes places, so let me ask you directly: are you now categorically rejecting what you wrote in that (policy) document? Yes or no? Please don’t give a smoke and mirrors type of answer,” it read. the text message, read aloud by the presenter.
Smith didn’t answer yes or no, pointing instead to the health spending bills.
No more comments on ethics probe: Prime Minister
In addition to restrictive questions, Smith also announced this week that she will not comment at all on an ongoing investigation by the provincial ethics commissioner.
Smith’s office said ethics commissioner Marguerite Trussler is trying to determine whether Smith interfered with the administration of justice by talking to the suspect about his case before his criminal trial.
LOOK | The premier of Alberta says the ethics commissioner is investigating her:
The premier of Alberta says the ethics commissioner is investigating her
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the ethics commissioner is investigating her over allegations she attempted to interfere with the court’s handling of a pastor’s charges related to a COVID-19 restriction block.
In that conversation, Smith is heard offering to investigate on behalf of the accused, telling him that the charges against him were politically motivated, adding that she shares his concerns about how prosecutors are handling cases related to COVID-19. 19 measures.
The Prime Minister also told listeners that Saturday’s show will be the last until after the May elections.
“We made the decision, and the station also has that this will be the last show,” she said. “Then maybe I’m just a guest and the other parties too.”
