Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley makes a campaign announcement in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, May 4, 2023. Alberta's election campaign continues with United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith and NDP Leader Rachel Notley both scheduled to make announcements in Calgary today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
EDMONTON – Alberta United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith had to be hustled offstage by security after a handful of placard-waving protesters disrupted her news conference over comments about selling hospitals.
One protester managed to reach the stage and refused to leave while others were held back by staffers at a south Calgary hotel, where Smith was making a campaign announcement ahead of the May 29 election.
They held up “for sale” signs demanding Smith answer for 2021 comments in which she muses about government selling hospitals to private operators.
The news conference was disrupted for a few minutes, but Smith returned to take questions after the protesters were taken away.
She compared the protesters to the NDP, saying both seek to misrepresent her position on health care and that her government is committed to not making people pay out-of-pocket for medically necessary services.
Smith says her government is using private surgical suites to reduce wait-lists, but says the work is covered under medicare and that her government will not privatize entire hospitals.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2023.
