‘Albertans come first’: Danielle Smith makes her case to UCP as members decide her future

RED DEER, ALTA. – In her speech before 6,000 United Conservatives on Saturday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith didn’t allude much to the leadership review that members will be voting on over the course of the day, but she did make a clear plea for party unity.

“Let us remain united as a party and as a movement,” Smith said to the crowd. “But let us not sink to the level of our opponents by attacking or vilifying one another, or breaking into factions and working with leftists to bring down our movement.”

The statement got a standing ovation, although some attendees remained firmly seated.

“We are a family. A large, raucous and opinionated family — but we are a great family nonetheless,” Smith said, as the crowd settled down.

In her remarks, which she kept to a tight 20 minutes, Smith kept to familiar conservative themes, among them attacking the federal Liberals, unbanning plastic straws, expanding the oil industry and strengthening Alberta’s sovereignty.

“(We) will be bringing additional lawsuits against the federal Liberal government in the coming months to shove the NDP-Liberal coalition, Justin Trudeau, and Stephen Guilbeault where they belong: back into their lanes and well out of Albertans’ business,” Smith said, referring to the prime minister and his environment minister. “Albertans come first. Period.”

She got rapturous applause for her recitation of the latest gender policies that prohibit gender-reassignment surgery and the use of puberty blockers for some Alberta minors. At the front of the crowd, someone roared “yeah!” As Smith said that the amendments to the Alberta Bill of Rights would prevent the government from ever introducing vaccine mandates.

“A person’s right to bodily autonomy is sacred,” Smith said.

Smith’s speech Saturday morning came just hours before voting closes on her mandatory leadership review. As conventioneers gathered Saturday morning, many were sporting pro-Smith T-shirts. Near the media table, three kids wearing oversized blue T-shirts, waved signs saying “I have Danielle Smith’s back.”

“Anybody want Danielle T-shirts?” called Vitor Marciano, a long-time provincial conservative strategist, as he walked through the crowd. “I’ve got many left.”

Immediately after, in a scrum with reporters, Smith denounced an email circulating at the convention that claimed a “yes” vote for Smith was a vote for Islamic shariah law, calling it “dirty tactics.”

“It’s disappointing to see it from some members within our own party,” Smith said. “I have always said that we have so much in common with our various faith communities on the issue of individual freedom, faith and family.”

Prior to the speech, the convention saw a video compilation featuring clips of previous Smith speeches, with St. Paul, Alta. country singer Brett Kissel’s “Let Your Horses Run,” providing the soundtrack. (Country music, perhaps unsurprisingly in this rural-heavy party, constituted the vast majority of musical entertainment heard over the weekend.)

Smith, in her remarks, targeted Trudeau and Guilbeault and “their band of woke MPs” for policies affecting Alberta.

“They have done all they can to cripple our oil and gas or agriculture sectors,” said Smith.

Smith promised that Alberta would double Alberta’s oil output, and promised to export “clean oil and gas” to Asia.

“Steven Guilbeault can throw as many temper tantrums and concoct as many green schemes as he wants,” Smith said.

The crowd chuckled.

She also spoke of Alberta values, of fiscal conservatism, free markets, individual freedom and personal responsibility.

“(The) ideologies of socialism, censorship, eco- extremism and big government are failing and losing in the court of public opinion,” Smith said.

Smith loyalists, chatting in the hospitality suites at the Red Deer Resort and Casino Friday night, were confident about their chances — confident that a vocal group of insurgents within the party ranks would be roundly defeated and thoroughly discredited by the final vote count.

It’s never exactly clear what constitutes a victory in Alberta conservative leadership reviews. Jason Kenney won his last vote, technically speaking, with 51.4 per cent support, but considered it not enough. Former premier Ralph Klein, in 2007, resigned after receiving just 55.4 per cent.

Ed Stelmach, who faced a leadership review in 2009, stuck around with 77 per cent support, though he resigned two years later after caucus unrest.

Asked what number Smith was hoping for, she said: “More than last time.”

When Smith was elected leader in 2022, she received just shy of 54-per-cent support from the party’s membership in a ranked-ballot vote.

The next election in Alberta is not until 2027. The New Democrats, headed by former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi, barely received a mention over the weekend, or in Smith’s remarks.

“Alberta’s economy is booming, and we aren’t slowing down for any Liberals or New Democrats in Ottawa or New Democrats here in Alberta for that matter,” said Smith, in her sole mention of Nenshi.

At the conclusion of her speech, walking out to the sound of Calgary country singer Paul Brandt’s, Alberta Bound, Smith left the stage.

National Post

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