Danielle Smith celebrates in Calgary on Thursday after being chosen as the new leader of the UCP.--cp photo Jeff McIntosh
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Brooks-Medicine Hat is without a legislative representative following former UCP MLA Michaela-Frey’s resignation Friday morning.
Frey, who has filled the position since April 16, 2019, announced earlier this year she would not be seeking re-election, however her resignation came with little warning to constituents – yet another change in Alberta’s rapidly-evolving political realm.
Frey announced her resignation mere hours after Danielle Smith was elected leader of Alberta’s United Conservatives Party, assuming the role of premier-designate until she is able to secure a seat in the legislature.
While Frey hasn’t overtly stated her resignation is a move to make available a seat for Smith, Frey did in her public resignation letter endorse Smith and encourage her to run for the now-vacant Brooks-Medicine Hat seat, for which a byelection will likely be announced soon.
The letter reads: “It is my dear hope that Premier-(Designate) Danielle Smith chooses to run in Brooks-Medicine Hat. Danielle’s vision will breathe new life into our region, putting us on the map for investors and exciting opportunities.”
On Friday afternoon, Smith confirmed she would be in Medicine Hat on Saturday to make an announcement, but provided no further details. The announcement will be streamed live on the UCP’s website at 1 p.m.
When asked by the News the intent of her resignation coupled with the endorsement, Frey reaffirmed she had long planned to depart from her position but said she feels Smith “deserves to be in the legislature.”
“I’ve had the honour of a lifetime representing Brooks-Medicine Hat and getting to know the people who live there,” Frey said. “There’s so many amazing community members, groups and organizations that do so many good things in our community. And I just feel like they would be served very well by the premier (designate).”
Frey believes Smith’s public profile would also benefit the region by shining light on resident concerns.
“We like to call ourselves the ‘forgotten corner’ down in Brooks-Medicine Hat, unfortunately, and in southeastern Alberta.” said Frey. “There will be no better spotlight for our region than to have the premier of a province running in the seat … And I’ll do everything that I can to make sure that she’s successful.”
Smith herself is not a resident of the region – she currently lives in High River (previously Calgary) – but Frey doesn’t believe that would have an impact on her ability to represent it.
“A lot of MLAs don’t live in the constituencies that they run in,” Frey said. “I think it really just matters about how willing you are to do the work (and) to travel to every corner of the constituency. And I know that she is (willing).”
While Frey says she is sad to leave the MLA position, she trusts Smith’s platform aligns with the values of Brooks-Medicine Hat voters.
A vocal supporter of many of former premier Jason Kenney’s policies, the News asked Frey her thoughts on Kenney and Smith’s long-standing feud largely centred around policy criticism. Smith is an outspoken critic of COVID-19 public health policies, believing them to be a government-permitted restriction of individual freedoms, while Kenney has blasted Smith’s proposed sovereignty act, a central feature of her campaign.
Frey avoided directly commenting on Kenney and Smith’s clash, and instead reiterated her belief that Smith’s policies are in line with voter interests.
“Southeastern Alberta is a freedom-loving jurisdiction,” said Frey. “We also know the value of hard work and standing up for what we believe in and the premier-designate has been very firm on standing up for the little guy and standing up for what we need as Albertans to the federal government. And I know that message resonates very well in Brooks-Medicine Hat.”
Frey, who describes her departure from the seat as “bittersweet,” is unsure if she will have any involvement in Smith’s campaign if she were to vie for the seat, but says if invited she would “be honoured” to support Smith.
Mara Nesbitt, who announced earlier this year her intention to run for the Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA position, also expressed support for Smith if she were to run in Brooks-Medicine Hat. Nesbitt attended a leadership event in Calgary on Friday but told the News she hasn’t yet talked to Smith, though she hopes to over the long weekend.
“If that’s the direction things go, I’d be happy with it,” she said. “It was a big decision when I decided to (seek the nomination). But it would mean so much for our region. It would put our communities at the forefront. We need that.”
