Alberta premier says she's spoken with street pastor and others facing pandemic-related charges

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she has spoken directly with people charged with pandemic-related offences, including Artur Pawlowski, but adds she simply explained to the street preacher that her office was unable to grant him amnesty.

Smith was speaking Thursday afternoon at a news conference on federal funding for provincial health care.

Pawlowski faces two counts of criminal mischief and a charge under Alberta's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act related to the Coutts border blockade a year ago. His trial took place last week and a date for the judge's decision has not yet been set.

CBC News has previously reported that Smith has pressured the attorney general and his office to intervene in COVID-related court cases, specifically, Pawlowski's.

"I've talked to everyone who has concerns about some of the enforcement orders that are against them," said Smith on Thursday. 

"I'm taking the advice of my attorney general and that we'll have to wait for the process to play out."

In trying to get to the bottom of when her conversation with Pawlowski happened, a reporter at the press conference asked about it.

"Did you speak to Art Pawlowski, an individual who was charged and before the court right now in this calendar year, and if so, what did you say to him?" the reporter asked.

"I did say yes and I said the same thing that I've always said, that I had sought the opportunity to seek amnesty," Smith replied. "I was told by my justice minister amnesty is not available to a premier."

Smith went on to say she is awaiting a key court decision that will determine whether the province's pandemic restrictions violated Albertans' constitutional rights.

Earlier in the day, the NDP justice critic called on Alberta's information and privacy commissioner to investigate the premier's office after "contradictory statements" were made following an email probe into whether Smith's office interfered with Crown prosecutors.

In a letter dated Feb. 9, MLA Irfan Sabir asked the commissioner to look into the office's records management practices following an email search in January. 

The search was ordered by Smith after CBC News reported an office staffer sent emails to the Crown's office, challenging its assessment and direction on court cases connected to last year's Coutts border blockade and protests. CBC News has not viewed the emails.

Sabir has asked the privacy commissioner to ensure Smith's office is complying with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.