Alberta Premier Smith, with election looming, announces new limits on media questions

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, four days after announcing she won't answer questions on her ethics investigation, says she will limit questions on all other topics.

Smith told reporters in Calgary Friday that she will only allow reporters to ask a single question at news conferences and not allow them the traditional followup query.

Asked why, she replied, "It's an election, that's why.

"We're sort of getting into election mode, so we have lots of people (and we) want to answer lots of questions." On her Corus radio call-in show Saturday, Smith said that the limits on questions will allow her to provide more answers. She said she wants to ensure as many reporters as possible get to ask questions in the days leading up to the election.  "It's just each media outlet will get one question instead of getting two while we're in this period of the campaign, because I just need to make sure that we're getting to as many people as possible," Smith said. 

The election is not set to formally begin for two more weeks, and Smith invoked the new rule, not at a United Conservative Party event, but at a government-funded media availability to unveil a new panel to address multicultural issues.

The Opposition NDP responded quickly, promising to answer any and all questions put to them, including followups.

"Leaders take questions — it's part of the job," NDP Leader Rachel Notley said on social media.

"If Danielle Smith isn't willing to explain herself to Albertans, she shouldn't be premier. Albertans deserve better."

Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi also weighed in on social media.

"Folks, this is really wrong," said Nenshi. "This was a government announcement, not an election announcement.

"It's part of the job to answer questions no matter how tough — why I scrummed almost daily. Not answering means you're either hiding something or your staff are scared of what you'll say."

The one-question policy comes amid ongoing scrutiny over Smith's phone call with a Calgary street pastor in which they discussed his upcoming criminal case related to pandemic-related charges.

On Monday, the premier's office said Alberta's ethics commissioner is launching an investigation into whether Smith interfered with the administration of justice tied to COVID-19 prosecutions.

Regarding the new limit on reporters' questions, political scientist Jared Wesley with the University of Alberta said follow-up questions are important for reporters when covering political figures.