Fixer says former Alberta justice minister hired him to get reporter's phone logs

A self-described political fixer says a former Alberta justice minister hired him to obtain a reporter's phone logs.

David Wallace says he was hired by Jonathan Denis to get the phone records of Alanna Smith, a former Calgary Herald reporter now of The Canadian Press. Wallace said Denis told him he wanted to trace sources Smith had drawn on for a story about whether the size of Denis's wedding reception broke COVID-19 protocols.

In an email from his lawyer, Denis denied that he or his clients talked to Wallace.

Wallace told The Canadian Press that Denis got his name through Alan Hallman and Gerald Chipeur, longtime conservative operatives.

"Jonathan called me (and) told me that at his wedding he feels he had been targeted for poor press," Wallace said in an interview. "He wanted to find out who (Smith's) sources were.

"He wanted me to go into my source contacts using databases to their private cellphone information communications."

Wallace said he warned Denis that obtaining phone logs could be illegal.

"He basically said this is just information I'm gathering for my own use."

Denis was a Progressive Conservative cabinet minister in Alberta from 2010 to 2015 and justice minister for the last three of those years. Recently, he has been reported to be an organizer for Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre's campaign for leadership of the federal party.

Wallace said he gets politicians out of tight spots for a living.

"I'm a repairman," said Wallace, a former Ontarian now living in Calgary. "I can find things or people and I can massage and fix difficult situations."

Wallace said he has had a 30-year career in political backrooms. He spoke with The Canadian Press because, he said, he's had enough.

"I'm tired of being a tool," he said. "I'm done."

Wallace said he's also grown concerned his work could be used to intimidate people or improperly influence political debate.