EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the killing of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a university in Utah should be widely condemned by everyone across the political spectrum.

Kirk, the co-founder and chief executive of Turning Point USA, was gunned down Wednesday during a debate at Utah Valley University in Orem, south of Salt Lake City.

Videos posted to social media show Kirk being fatally shot in the neck while taking questions from the crowd.

Smith says the killing was horrifying and called it an assassination by someone who didn’t share Kirk’s political views.

Kirk’s death is the latest example of growing political violence in the U.S.

The premier is one of several prominent Canadians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, who have condemned the killing as a threat to democracy.

“It should be roundly and completely condemned by everyone across the political spectrum. It’s horrifying and that shouldn’t happen for somebody who has a difference of opinion,” Smith told reporters Thursday.

“We should be able to have differences of opinion. Talk it out. Sometimes it gets passionate, I understand that. But there’s no excuse (for) what happened yesterday. It’s an absolute tragedy.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2025.

Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press