Independent probe into contact between Alberta premier's office, prosecutors needed, says political scientist
CBC
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith should call an independent investigation into contact between her office, the justice minister's office and crown prosecutors to put questions to rest, one political scientist says.
Sources have told CBC News that Smith, over several months, asked for updates on cases or inquired whether it would be possible to abandon them.
University of Calgary political science professor Lisa Young says questions about the actions of Smith and her staff may follow them until an impartial third-party can look at the evidence.
"There's a lot of smoke around this, which suggests there is a fire," Young said Wednesday.
"And it's very clear that there's now a perception that something has gone on here. Which means, we need clarity."
Exchanges between the premier's office and Justice Minister Tyler Shandro's office over several months included what sources characterized to CBC News as attempts to influence cases.
One source called the contact "inappropriate" – a characterization the premier's office refutes.
CBC News has agreed not to name the sources because of potential professional repercussions.
One source said Smith committed to asking Shandro to end the prosecution of Artur Pawlowski, a pastor charged with two counts of criminal mischief and a charge under Alberta's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act related to the Coutts border blockade.
While running for UCP leader and as premier, Smith has said publicly she would look into ways to grant amnesty to people facing non-violent charges in pandemic-related cases.
In a statement Wednesday, Smith's office said she and her staff had "several discussions" with the justice minister and public servants in the justice department about amnesty options. She followed their legal advice and recommendations, the statement said.
"All communications between the Premier, her staff, the Minister of Justice and Ministry of Justice public servants have been appropriate and made through the proper channels," the statement said.
In a separate statement, Shandro's press secretary, Ethan Lecavalier-Kidney, said the premier requested briefings, which they provided. He said the premier did not provide direction to Shandro.
"The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service Acts independently and at no time has any political decision affected ongoing prosecutions."
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) found some reasons to celebrate the 2026-27 provincial budget, but it takes issue with the amount designated for the province's Water Security Agency (WSA).
The family of an Edmonton woman who died in Honolulu last year is pushing for Hawaiian authorities to re-open the case.
It was around this time in 2020 that everything changed.
With its emergency shelter beds frequently running at 50 per cent over capacity and demand so great that it's forced to refer some women escaping domestic violence elsewhere, Gillian's Place in St. Catharines will soon be able to offer a broader range of services to more victims of gender-based violence.
The ceiling of the CAW Student Centre at the University of Windsor is decorated by flags of numerous nations — among them, Iran.
Turmoil in Iran, a major disruption in world oil markets, and stratospheric gasoline prices in Canada and beyond. What's racking motorists and governments in 2026 also faced them in 1979, sparked by the Iranian Revolution.
Five decades later, and Thunder Bay's Music World Academy remains a family-run business.
Dalton Dubois of Guelph, Ont., made history at the recent Paris Fashion Week when she became the first transgender model to walk the runway for Chanel Exclusive.
Work is scheduled to begin over the summer at the site of the former Clinton Creek asbestos mine, about 65 kilometres northwest of Dawson City, Yukon.
They may be bitter rivals in the House of Commons, but outside the chamber, recent events may have led to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Prime Minister Mark Carney forging a bond.
Local fans and industry insiders say the province’s move to ban the reselling of event tickets for more than their original value is a step in the right direction, but some say there are still larger issues that need to be addressed.
This First Person column is the experience of Mehdi M. Kashani, who lives in Toronto. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
A very quiet queue has formed in Europe where some of Canada's long-standing, closest allies are seeking shelter under France's small but robust nuclear umbrella.