Marshall Smith will retire from public service later this month, according to a statement from the premier’s office
Marshall Smith has served as chief of staff for two years.
In a statement posted to social media, Smith said he told her at the start of the year that he would be walking away from the job in October, though he did not specify a date.
“Marshall Smith has worked consistently to serve the best interests of Albertans every day in the premier’s office,” Smith’s statement reads.
“It has been an honour to work with Marshall. I and our entire province owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for his service to Alberta.”
The statement hails Marshall Smith’s work on the province’s recovery-based approach to mental health and addiction care.
“Countless lives have been saved and improved thanks to his commitment and service to the people of Alberta,” it says.
Smith came to Alberta from B.C. where he worked as a political staffer for the B.C. Liberal Party before falling into addiction.
He lived on the streets of Vancouver for four years before entering detox and recovery treatment and has now been clean for two decades.
Smith told Bell he needed a break from the intense job and plans to advise government throughout the country on addiction issues.
Smith has denied those allegations.
The changes granted the chief of staff the authority to approve any gift worth more than that for staff and more than $1,000 for an event, conference or meeting.
Smith also invited Conservative MP Erin O’Toole to MHCare’s box for a game during the 2023 NHL playoffs.
Rob Anderson, a former Wildrose MLA and current executive director of the premier’s office, will take over Smith’s role as chief of staff.
The United Conservative Party is scheduled to hold its annual general meeting in Red Deer Nov. 1-2 where Smith will face a vote on her leadership.