Danielle Smith, who was sworn in as Alberta’s new premier on Tuesday, said she will shake up the top level of the health care system within three months and amend the province’s human rights law to protect those who choose not to get vaccinated.
“(The unvaccinated) have been the most discriminated against group I’ve ever witnessed in my life,” Smith told reporters at the legislature.
“I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a situation in my life where a person was fired from their job or they weren’t allowed to watch their kids play hockey or they weren’t allowed to visit a loved one in long-term care or the hospital, Not allowed to get on a plane or cross-country to see family or even travel across the border.
“We are not going to create a segregated society based on a medical choice.”
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Earlier in the day, Smith was sworn in as lieutenant governor. Salma Lakhani at a ceremony at Government House.
In a speech there, Smith said: “Albertans have been through a lot these past 2 1/2 years. Our rights and freedoms have been tested.
“I will make sure as head of this government that those rights and freedoms are protected and never again taken for granted.”
1:56 New Alberta minister Danielle Smith says she hasn’t heard back from former premier Kenney New Alberta minister Danielle Smith says she hasn’t heard back from ex-premier Minister Kenney
Smith, 51, ran and won the United Conservative Party leadership race last week to replace Jason Kenney as leader and prime minister.
He pledged to provide human rights protections for the unvaccinated and to fire senior management at Alberta Health Services, the province’s front-line care provider.
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He said AHS botched the job during the COVID-19 pandemic by failing to comply with cabinet instructions to increase surge capacity as hospitalizations increased, while also implementing vaccine rules that depleted staffing levels. .
“When they don’t get the goals and they don’t get the direction, you change the management. And that’s what we’re going to do,” Smith said. “My intention would be to have a new government structure in place within 90 days.”
0:38 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she will find new health officials for the province.
Smith also announced that he plans to replace Dr. Deena Hinshaw as Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
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Hinshaw was praised in the early days of the pandemic and then faced criticism when hospitals were overwhelmed.
“I appreciate the work that Dr. Deena Hinshaw has done, but I think we are in a new phase where we are now talking about treating the coronavirus as endemic, as we do with the flu. So I’m going to develop a new team of public health advisors,” Smith said.
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Smith will also act as Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and plans to announce an overhauled cabinet on October 21.
Before the swearing-in ceremony, Kenney formally tendered his resignation as prime minister. He announced he was stepping down months earlier after an uninspiring 51% support vote in a party leadership review.
Smith and Kenney clashed publicly during the leadership campaign. He characterized his core promise to create an act of Alberta sovereignty to reject federal laws and court decisions as “new” and a fuse to ignite a fuse of political and economic unrest.
1:52 The UCP candidates denounce the proposed sovereign act as a “constitutional fairy tale” Previous video Next video
Smith said he hasn’t heard directly from Kenney since his victory last Thursday.
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“I contacted him and he has not accepted my invitation for a meeting,” he said. “I think the Prime Minister needs some time and I am willing to give him some time. It’s a great fit.”
23:22 The West Block: 9 October The West Block: 9 October
Smith does not hold a seat in the legislature, but announced over the weekend that he will run in a by-election to fill a vacant seat in Brooks-Medicine Hat in southern Alberta.
Elections Alberta has called the by-election for November 8.
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Almost all of Smith’s leadership rivals and other members of the UCP caucus have criticized Smith’s proposed sovereignty act as unconstitutional and unsustainable.
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In Calgary, opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley said she and justice critic Kathleen Ganley have written to all UCP caucus members and asked them to personally oppose the legislature
“If they were telling the truth on the road to the leadership contest, the bottom line is that they cannot allow this bill to pass. It’s time to put the province before the party and do the right thing,” Notley said.
The next general election is scheduled for May 29 and Smith has said he will not call an early vote.
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