In statement on Thursday, Smith said she would seek legal advice on how a premier could talk to a justice minister about sensitive matters in the future.Īlberta, Canada's main oil-producing province, holds provincial elections on May 29 and polls indicate a tight two-way race between the UCP and the left-leaning New Democratic Party. 'It is a threat to democracy to interfere with the administration of justice,' she wrote. OTTAWA, May 18 (Reuters) - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith interfered with the judicial process, the Canadian province's ethics commissioner said in a ruling released on Thursday, two weeks before a provincial election that is expected to be hard fought.Īt a time when raging wildfires in Alberta are testing Smith's disaster management skills, the announcement is yet another challenge for the right-leaning ruling United Conservative Party (UCP), which has run into trouble over statements by Smith and other candidates.Įthics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler said Smith had breached conflict of interest laws by contacting the province's justice minister about the case of a Calgary pastor facing criminal charges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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