Danielle Smith’s silence is not leadership

If political scandals were a cooking show, Premier Danielle Smith just tried to serve Albertans a half-baked investigation with a side of “no comment.” Unfortunately for her, the public isn’t hungry for dodges — they’re starving for answers. And right now, it looks like someone burned the truth in the back of the Alberta Health Services (AHS) kitchen.

Allegations of political interference in Alberta’s health care system surfaced last week. Albertans looked to Smith for clarity, leadership, and accountability. Instead, they got silence, deflection, and an opaque promise of “transparency” that feels anything but.

At the heart of the issue are whistleblower allegations reported by the Globe and Mail, suggesting Smith’s office may have played a direct role in pressuring senior health officials — specifically former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos — to award contracts to private health care companies. According to internal emails and sources cited in the report, this pressure appeared to align with Smith’s broader ideological push toward privatization in health care.

This points to a potentially dangerous precedent: political ideology interfering with the impartial administration of public services. If a premier can pressure a health agency to steer contracts based on political priorities rather than public need or due process, the consequences extend far beyond one personnel change. It undermines the very credibility of the health care system and jeopardizes public trust.

Despite the gravity of these allegations, Smith has refused to offer direct answers. She has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in AHS leadership changes. Instead, she has pointed to an upcoming third-party investigation, which she claims will be “public and transparent.” However, concerns persist about its independence — particularly around who was chosen to lead it. If the investigator was cherry-picked to produce a favourable outcome, the process risks becoming a political exercise rather than a genuine search for accountability.

This isn’t just a procedural issue — it goes to the core of democratic oversight. In cases of alleged political interference, the credibility of any investigation hinges on public confidence in its neutrality. If those under scrutiny control the terms of the inquiry, it sends a troubling message. Power can shield itself from scrutiny. Without true independence and transparency, the public may see the investigation not as a path to truth but as damage control.

Worse still, Smith has avoided addressing the issue during question period in the legislature. She responded to direct inquiries from opposition members of the legislative assembly (MLA) with generalized statements about supporting transparency. Furthermore, she failed to answer the core question: was she, or her staff, involved in pressuring AHS to award contracts to certain companies?

Calls for her resignation have grown. Opposition members argue that if investigators prove the allegations, Smith will have violated public trust and must step down as premier. Meanwhile, Smith continues to stick to carefully crafted messaging while offering no substantive rebuttal to the specific claims against her.

Even commentators who have historically defended Smith’s policies are acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. Columnist Rick Bell notes that this is no longer just a question of whether political interference occurred. There is now a growing need to understand the extent of the Premier’s involvement and when she became aware of these decisions.

The damage from this scandal isn’t just political. It erodes confidence in Alberta’s health care system and raises concerns about the privatization of health care. If political leaders dismiss health officials for their own agenda, they compromise the entire system.

Smith’s silence may be strategic, but it is not leadership. Real leaders do not wait for investigations to reveal the truth. They do not hide behind procedural vagueness. They confront difficult questions head-on — especially when public health, professional integrity, and democratic accountability are at stake.

If Smith had no involvement in the decision to remove AHS leadership for investigating her own staff’s interference, she should state that clearly and submit to full public scrutiny. If the allegations are proven, then she must accept the consequences, including resignation. Albertans deserve answers — not rehearsed lines. They deserve leaders who respect the line between politics and public health. And above all, they deserve the truth.