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19h ago

Letters Challenge Smith’s Court Rhetoric as ER Complaints Renew Pleas to Prioritize Health Care

Writers warn that curbing court oversight would weaken the rule of law.

Edmonton police work at the scene of a two vehicle collision on Manning Dr. near the Hwy 28 A intersection, north of Edmonton Sunday Nov. 27, 2022.
Jack Matthews' painting Prairie Road In August is visible behind Premier Danielle Smith as she speaks with reporter Matthew Black during a year-end interview at the Alberta Legislature, in Edmonton Thursday Nov. 27, 2025. Photo by David Bloom
Mayor Jeromy Farkas speaks at a press conference after another water main break.

Overview

  • Letter writers in the Edmonton Journal criticize Premier Danielle Smith’s year-end remarks questioning judges and signaling openness to using the notwithstanding clause.
  • Contributors argue that deploying Section 33 to shield laws from Charter review would erode judicial oversight and public trust in legal institutions.
  • An experienced lawyer defends Alberta’s judiciary as qualified and impartial irrespective of the appointing government.
  • Separate letters allege serious emergency-room triage failures, including a claim linking Prashant Sreekumar’s death to disbelief of chest-pain symptoms and a first-person account of deterioration before treatment.
  • Some writers urge shelving a provincial police force and pension plan to fund health care, while a Calgary Sun letter supports expanding Alberta Sheriffs, highlighting divide over policing priorities.