Smith's Alberta Day Message Changes, Sparks Concerns

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith caused confusion when her official message for Alberta Day changed within an hour. The initial email, sent at 10 am, included a message acknowledging the Indigenous Peoples' enduring connection to and stewardship of the land. However, 55 minutes later, an updated version removed this reference and adopted a more strident tone.

The second message emphasized Alberta's history of building its province through hard work, innovation, and freedom, while also warning that Canada pushing back against Trump's tariffs would have apocalyptic consequences for the country. Smith claimed that if Canada imposes an export tax on Canadian oil, it could 'wipe out' Ontario and Quebec economies.

The sudden change in tone and message has sparked questions about what was going through the premier's mind. Her press secretary, Sam Blackett, attributed the change to an error, stating that the initial statement stood and would be reflected on Alberta.ca/news. The move has been met with criticism from Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi of the Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations, who called the removal of Indigenous Peoples' acknowledgment 'deeply troubling.'