Reporting Danielle Smith to the Commissioner of Canada Elections

Hello r/alberta

Concerning the recent conduct of our premier, which was recently uncovered through an interview she had with Breitbart, I have felt it necessary to file a complaint to the Commissioner of Canada Elections. As someone who is supposed to be represented by Danielle Smith (and has worked in the oil and gas industry myself), I feel it unethical and unprofessional to have Smith advocating to US officials to tailor their foreign policy to get her favoured party elected. She does this by highlighting what the US has to gain with a conservative leadership, awarding their change of policy with incentives to do so.

"But because of what we see as unjust and unfair tariffs, it’s actually caused an increase in the support for the liberals,” Smith responded. “And so that’s what I fear, is that the longer this dispute goes on, politicians posture, and it seems to be benefiting the Liberals right now. So I would hope that we could put things on pause is what I’ve told administration officials. Let’s just put things on pause so we can get through an election.”

"I would say, on balance, the perspective that Pierre would bring would be very much in sync with, I think…the new direction in America,” she added. “And I think we’d have a really great relationship for the period of time they’re both in.”

This might not fully constitute foreign interference, but at least it will hopefully highlight the unprofessional conduct of the premier of Alberta. She was elected to represent all the people of Alberta, including those who do not align with her politically. I have no intention of voting conservative in the federal election for a variety of reasons, so Smith's advocating to US authorities to get Pierre Polivere elected is a vast overreach of her authority. I hope (at the very minimum) she will face disciplinary measures for her conduct, as this sets a horrible precedent for political representatives in the future.

If any of you wish to file your own complaint, the link to the Commissioner of Canada Elections is here. If there is enough attention here, it might put more pressure on the federal government to investigate Smith, or to discipline her. Albertans (and Canada in general) deserves a political representative that has all their interests at heart; regardless of political allegiance.

Albertans elected her, so maybe it is time to have our voices heard again to enforce positive change, even if it outside an election cycle.

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Just an edit. This post has had an overwhelming amount of support and that’s awesome. But I wanted to address a few comments. I have no issue with Smith discussing with foreign news outlets about her preference in a federal political candidate. That’s well within her right as a Canadian. Her also trying to pause tariffs is a good thing for Canadians.

However, my main point of contention is her suggesting to US officials to alter their foreign policy to specifically make it more possible for her candidate to get elected.

There have been plenty of Canadian premiers and representatives that have argued for tariffs to be lifted or paused, without asking the US to get a certain party elected; much less with the promise of incentives in doing so. At the very least, it is extremely unprofessional and incompetent, and at most it might constitute as foreign interference. Whether Smith meant her comments to be taken in that way or not, is irrelevant. She offered the US political incentives to alter their foreign policies, that’s all predicated on the result of an election. She is inviting the US to pause tariffs to affect election results.

She could have instead phrased it in a manner similar to “I think the people of Canada would have appreciated the US waiting until the elections were done; as Canadians have a good deal to think about already at the polls.” It demonstrates that the actions of the US are negatively affecting the election without highlighting a particular outcome, much less telling the US how much they serve to gain from a specific result.

But Danielle (using her position as premier of Alberta) instead uses the pausing of the tariffs specifically for the Conservatives to win, and provides US authorities with incentives to do just that.”

That is what I have an issue with. It should at least warrant an investigation concerning the extent of these “conversations” she has alluded to. As a politician, optics are her job. When I was a student teacher, I took on the position knowing that there are certain standards I am to uphold as a professional, and it is the same with any professional job. Being a politician is no different.