What does Smith say to those who think this story is not done, who allege some kind of corruption? ‘Look, I wanted to support the team and the people who invited me wanted me to be there to support the team as well’
There is no time to beat around the bush.
The Globe and Mail days ago breaks a story about Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her inner circle and staff members attending Edmonton Oilers playoff games and hanging out with mucky-mucks.
Others talk quite openly about another possible piece of the puzzle, talk of at least two staff members going to Florida to watch the Oilers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.
Premier Smith is asked: Do you know about that?
“All I would say is what private people do with their private money is their private business that does not fall into the realm of what the ethics commissioner looks at.”
If someone were to have gone to Florida would your expectation be they paid for the flight?
“Correct,” says Smith.
And accommodation?
“Correct.”
Is your understanding that’s what happened?
“Correct.
“What private members and private staff members do with their own money on their own time is not a matter for the ethics commissioner.
“If there’s any interpretation the ethics commissioner wants to give me otherwise I have asked for him to give me advice and to give Marshall advice.”
Marshall is Marshall Smith, her chief of staff.
To the premier: “Your understanding is at least somebody from your staff went down there to Florida but nobody paid their hotel, nobody paid their flight.”
“Yes, their own money is their own business.”
So does the ethics boss have all the information from you and from your chief of staff Marshall Smith?
“Correct.”
He knows about the trips and everything? He knows everything?
“Yeah.”
Are you expecting a report from the ethics commissioner?
Smith is having a meeting with the ethics commissioner.
“I think we’re going to have a scheduled meeting face-to-face.”
When is that meeting?
“I would hope in the next month or so.”
It’s been reported Smith went to Vancouver for one Oilers game and said nothing was on the taxpayer dime.
“I have a board member who is with Invest Alberta. He paid for the suite.”
Invest Alberta is a government Crown corporation promoting business opportunities here.
Smith went to two games in Edmonton, one in the loge seats, courtesy of Explore Edmonton, the local tourism outfit.
One was in a luxury box.
Who had that box?
“The Oilers.”
What about the box hosted by the guy connected to the big delivery of children’s medication from Turkey?
“I didn’t go to his suite, I was not hosted in his suite.”
What does Smith say to those who think this story is not done, who allege some kind of corruption?
“Look, I wanted to support the team and the people who invited me wanted me to be there to support the team as well.”
But there is some pushback, including from some rock-ribbed conservatives, who say at the very least this looks bad.
“There will always be events that have ticket prices associated with them that I get invited to and that’s why we have an ethics commissioner.”
If the ethics commissioner has issues, Smith says she will adjust.
“I have to be sensitive to what Albertans think but I am very, very careful what is charged to the taxpayers.”
Smith says she usually gets her lunch from Sobeys, doesn’t bill expensive dinners, doesn’t have large hospitality expenses.
Would the premier do anything differently?
“Presumably somebody is going to ask me to the opening game and presumably I’m going to go. There are some things that are just so big and so important to cities they want me to be there,” says the premier.
Smith makes sure to point out she watched Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final with her husband at a High River bar having a beer and eating nachos.
And what of the critics?
“I guess we’ll see. I don’t think there have been any ethics violations. No,” says Smith.
“I expect my staff and I expect my MLAs to follow the ethics rules so if there’s any problem the ethics commissioner will raise that.”
If there are any problems, what will Smith do?
“I’ll have to deal with it at that time.”