Smith takes heat over sovereignty act, comments on cancer and PST in first UCP leadership debate abpoli
Along with discussions on party unity and advocating for Alberta’s interests, the six other candidates who took the stage Wednesday in Medicine Hat spent much of their time attacking Smith’s promised Alberta Sovereignty Act and slamming recent statements she made regarding cancer treatment as well as her past advocating for a PST.
If elected Smith has promised an Alberta Sovereignty Act which she says would allow Alberta to reject federal laws, court rulings and regulatory decisions. Critics have warned that it would create a potential constitutional crisis, undermine the rule of law, and scare off investors.Article content Former minister of culture Leela Aheer said there are ways to work within the constitution and get “massive wins” for Alberta.
Former children’s services minister Rebecca Schulz told Smith, “You are writing cheques you can’t cash and making promises you can’t keep.”“We have allowed the federal government to walk all over us in every single area of our jurisdiction,” she said. At the debate she said that her comments were “misunderstood” and that she is a proponent of early detection, early treatment, nutrition and holistic medicine.Article content
Smith was also called on to address her previous advocacy for a PST in a column for Postmedia in 2020.