‘Busy year’ has all been intertwined with Medicine Hat: Smith
By COLLIN GALLANT on July 29, 2023.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant It’s been quite a year for Danielle Smith, and it’s all been intertwined with Medicine Hat, the premier told the News this week. Smith emerged as the front-runner in the party leadership contest during a debate at the HALO hanger in Medicine Hat on July 27, 2022 before completing a political comeback that stunned many observers that fall. Exactly one year later she rode in the Medicine Hat Stampede parade as premier and MLA for the region following two election wins. “Holy Dinah, it’s been a busy year,” she said following the Stampede president’s luncheon on Thursday. “I’ve been here a lot: for the debate, for the byelection and debates, the general election and the debates. There’s been a lot of debates,” she joked. Smith won the United Conservative leadership vote in October 2022, and quickly ran in the local byelection held the next month. Six months later the general election ended with Smith re-elected here, and returned with a majority government in Edmonton. This spring she’s announced her second full-list of cabinet appointments in less than 10 months, and says she’s ready to tackle an ambitious agenda. I’ve been rolling out mandate letters to get everyone started… and I think everyone has hit the ground running. We’re not waiting for the fall, we’ve already gotten started.” Smith and Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright hosted 700 people at a joint barbecue event at a city park on Wednesday night. 12-11
