EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is playing down an earlier pledge to create a council of defeated candidates to advise her in Edmonton.

Smith says her United Conservative Party caucus has cabinet ministers and other experienced legislature members in municipalities surrounding the provincial capital from whom she can draw policy advice.

She says she can also call on city councillors and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

Smith made the comments in an interview on the Ryan Jespersen podcast after he asked about her promise last week to craft a council of defeated UCP candidates to advise her on policy in the capital.

The Opposition NDP swept all 20 seats in Edmonton in the May 29 election, and Smith’s comments were widely criticized as a slap in the face to the provincial representatives Edmontonians chose. 

Smith’s UCP garnered 49 seats to win a second consecutive majority government, and the premier is set to announce her new cabinet Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2023.

The Canadian Press