Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has reversed part of her government’s new media question restriction policy but will continue to limit queries in order to provide more answers. Smith’s office announced on Tuesday that while individual reporters are still limited to one question with no follow-ups at news conferences, that rule will not apply to individual news outlets.
Over the weekend, Smith and her chief adviser Rob Anderson announced that the one-question rule would apply to outlets, which sparked confusion over which outlets would be affected, given that many reporters covering the premier work for the same corporate employer but in different capacities, including different cities, different bureaus, and different subject areas.
The Alberta Legislature Press Gallery Association, which represents reporters based in the legislature building, sent a letter on Monday demanding that the question restriction policy be abandoned. The gallery stated that “many other options are open – shorter preambles, shorter answers, longer news conferences, more news conferences – rather than a solution that allows Alberta’s leader to avoid accountability.”
Opposition NDP leader Rachel Notley said that the best way for the United Conservative Party premier to provide more answers is to take more questions, including follow-ups. Notley said that Smith is seeking to stop reporters from challenging her answers. “This is part of a long-standing effort and a growing effort on the part of this premier to shield herself from accountability and transparency,” Notley told reporters in Calgary on Monday.
The rule is to be in place through the election campaign and applies only to questions put to Smith, not those in her cabinet or caucus. The writ is expected to drop on May 1 for polling day on May 29.