EDMONTON 鈥� Alberta鈥檚 deputy premier says it was appropriate for Premier Danielle Smith to phone up a pastor and discuss his upcoming criminal trial on charges stemming from protests over pandemic restrictions.
Kaycee Madu, who is also the province's former justice minister, said Thursday that Smith is working to make Alberta better, adding that she is free to contact whomever she wants in pursuing that mission.聽
Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley labelled Madu鈥檚 comments a dangerous "la la land" rationale and the start of a slippery slope toward a "tinpot dictatorship."
Smith faces renewed criticism over a leaked phone conservation she had with Calgary pastor Artur Pawlowski in January about his looming criminal trial for his role at a protest over COVID-19 health measures that blocked the United States-Canada border-crossing at Coutts, Alta., in January 2022.
Audio of the call was obtained by the Opposition NDP and played for reporters Wednesday.
In it, Smith is heard commiserating with Pawlowski over her government鈥檚 trial tactics, offering to make inquiries on his behalf and saying the Crown is pursuing politically motivated charges against him.
Legal and political observers say the call is a profound breach of the firewall separating politicians from those who decide who gets prosecuted.
Smith has long been critical of COVID-19 masking, gathering and vaccine mandate rules, questioning if they were needed to fight the pandemic. She has called them intolerable violations of personal freedoms.
Madu, when asked by reporters whether it was proper for Smith to have called Pawlowski, said: "COVID policies were divisive for the people of Alberta. I am looking to see us pass that particular era and focus on the people鈥檚 priorities."
He said Smith's focus as premier has been on things that matter to Albertans, such as affordability, economic growth and taking care of the vulnerable.聽
鈥淚n the course of that particular work, the premier is free to speak with anyone that she wishes to speak with.鈥�
Notley said those remarks, coupled with Smith鈥檚 words on the phone call, put Alberta on a slippery path to the politicization of its justice system. She called for an expedited independent inquiry into the matter before the writ is dropped next month for a scheduled provincial election.
鈥淲e鈥檙e on the verge of a tinpot dictatorship,鈥� Notley said.
鈥淵ou start ripping apart the fundamental tenets of democracy, you move into dictatorship. It鈥檚 that simple.鈥�
Madu moved out of the justice portfolio under former premier Jason Kenney after a third-party report found he tried to interfere in the administration of justice by calling up Edmonton鈥檚 police chief to complain about a traffic ticket.
Madu was given a new portfolio under Kenney, then promoted to deputy premier when Smith won the party leadership and became premier in October.
Smith has not spoken to reporters since the audio was released, but in a statement Wednesday reiterated she has acted strictly within the parameters of advice from justice officials and has not spoken directly to Crown prosecutors.
"There is no need for further investigation of this matter," Smith said in a statement Thursday.
Notley said the call is dramatic and disturbing proof of Smith breaching the judicial firewall.
"You cannot have unfettered power in the office of the premier. There are limits," Notley said. "Our Constitution for as long as we鈥檝e been a country has said that those limits are defined by an independent judicial system."
Calgary-based pollster Janet Brown said the controversy will reanimate voter concerns with Smith.
聽鈥淲hy was she even taking a call from someone facing a criminal offence and talking about their criminal charges?鈥� said Brown in an interview.
鈥淭his will give undecided voters pause. They will be wondering about her judgment, and her judgment is her Achilles heel.鈥�
Political scientist Duane Bratt said Smith is exerting pressure on the justice system by constantly questioning justice officials about why they are pursuing COVID-19 cases.聽
"Even if this isn鈥檛 about talking to Crown prosecutors, this is clear pressure on (Justice Minister Tyler) Shandro," said Bratt, with Mount Royal University in Calgary.
Constitutional law professor Eric Adams, with the University of Alberta, said the call threatens public trust in the courts.
"You expose the administration of justice to the reasonable concern of the public that some people have access to the premier and preferential treatment and some people don鈥檛," said Adams.
鈥淥ur system can鈥檛 function on that basis.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2023.
Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press
