Danielle Smith is a prominent figure in Canadian politics, having built a successful career as a politician, journalist, and radio host. She currently serves as the Premier of Alberta and leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP). Her journey to the top has been marked by dedication and significant effort, and we’ll delve into how she achieved it on edmonton-yes.com.
Childhood and Youth
Marlaina Danielle Smith was born on April 1, 1971, in Calgary. Her father worked for Firestone, a tire manufacturing company, while her mother was employed at a local café before moving on to Canada Post. Interestingly, Marlaina’s grandfather lived in Ukraine until approximately World War I. Records show he spent a significant period in Austro-Hungary before moving to Canada in 1913. Marlaina was the second of five children in her family.
Both of Smith’s parents held conservative political views. Her father even once admonished one of her high school teachers for discussing communism in class and expressing sympathy for it. In an interview, Smith stated that her libertarian political beliefs largely stemmed from a profound distrust of socialism.
In 1988, Marlaina enrolled at the University of Calgary, graduating in 1993. She then moved to Vancouver, where she worked in a restaurant and attempted to launch an acting career in film and television. However, she soon returned to the University of Calgary to pursue a second Bachelor’s degree in Economics.
In 1997, Smith began an internship at the Fraser Institute, where she actively contributed to reports that frequently criticized media outlets and public movements for spreading misinformation about the environment and climate change. She later became the director of the Canadian Property Rights Research Institute. This institute championed private property rights and opposed municipal anti-smoking bylaws. During this period, Smith had already established connections with the Reform Party.
School Board Trustee and Professional Journalist
In 1988, Danielle made her first foray into electoral politics, successfully running for a seat on the Calgary School Board. There, she advocated for increased school fees and the closure of certain schools. This latter stance put her at odds with the more progressive members of the board. Ultimately, after 11 months, the Alberta Minister of Education dissolved the board due to its dysfunction. Following this, Smith was appointed editor of the Calgary Herald newspaper, a position she held until 2006, while also working for other media outlets. In 2002, she hosted a current affairs talk show on Global Television, and in 2005, she moved to CKMX Radio, where she hosted a program focused on property rights and healthcare issues.
In 2006, Smith transitioned from journalism to lobbying, first for the Alberta Property Rights Initiative and then for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. In this role, she promoted pro-business policies at both the federal and provincial levels.
Party Leadership
By 2008, Danielle Smith’s support for the Progressive Conservatives of Alberta began to wane. Amidst a global recession, Premier Ed Stelmach abandoned the party’s commitment to fiscal conservatism and created a budget deficit. In 2008, the Wildrose Party participated in its first general election, securing 7% of the popular vote. Party members began urging Smith to run for leader. With higher public recognition than her rivals, Smith became the leader of the Wildrose Party in 2009.
Smith’s background in journalism and her ability to articulate political positions clearly were key to her success. Despite not gaining a seat in the Alberta Legislative Assembly and facing accusations of authoritarianism and intimidation, she significantly influenced provincial politics in the years that followed. Notably, she managed to persuade three Progressive Conservative MLAs to cross the floor and join the Wildrose Party, attracting considerable media and public attention.
In 2012, Smith assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition, facing new challenges. At the Wildrose Party’s annual general meeting, an anti-discrimination resolution she strongly supported was rejected by party members. Soon after, circumstances led her to cross the floor to the Progressive Conservative Party, a move that drew sharp criticism. Unable to withstand the backlash, Danielle returned to media, hosting a three-hour weekday talk show on radio station CHQR. In 2021, she accepted a new position as president of the Alberta Enterprise Group, a role she held for about a year.
In the 2015 Alberta election, Rachel Notley’s NDP came to power. In June 2017, the Progressive Conservative Party merged with the Wildrose Party to form the United Conservative Party (UCP), which elected Jason Kenney as its leader. In May 2022, following significant upheaval related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenney resigned as premier. Smith then entered the race to succeed him as UCP leader and premier. In early October, party members voted, and Smith won with 53.8% of the votes. She was sworn in as Premier on October 11, 2022.
Serving as Premier of Alberta
As Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith became known for her flagship legislative project, the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act. This act aimed to provide the province with the ability to selectively opt out of federal laws. The project was founded under the name “Free Alberta Strategy,” with its main goal being to call for Alberta to reject the federal carbon tax, remove the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), cease equalization payments to Ottawa, and opt out of a number of federal programs.
The United Conservative Party government also passed the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act in December 2022. While it doesn’t implement radical changes, it does create an avenue for the province to opt out of federal legislation. It’s important to note that many legal scholars consider it unconstitutional.
In 2023, Smith and the UCP secured re-election. However, the party’s dominance in the 87-seat Legislative Assembly decreased from 63 to 49 seats. In the summer of 2024, former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi replaced Rachel Notley as the leader of Alberta’s NDP. As of 2025, Danielle Smith continues to serve as the Premier of Alberta.
Controversies Surrounding the Politician
Danielle Smith has faced criticism on multiple occasions throughout her career for making unsubstantiated claims. These include assertions about having Cherokee ancestry, the effectiveness of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin for treating COVID-19, and even suggesting that moderate cigarette smoking could reduce the risk of lung disease by 75%. In early 2022, Smith voiced support for the aggressive actions of the “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa and the border blockade in Coutts, Alberta. At her first press conference after being sworn in as premier, Smith controversially described unvaccinated individuals as the most discriminated-against group she had ever witnessed. After taking office, it was revealed that she had pressured her justice minister to lighten the sentence for one of the participants in the Coutts blockade who was accused of criminal mischief.