Premier attacks prosecutorial independence

Irfan Sabir, Alberta’s New Democrat Shadow Minister for Justice, issued the following statement in response to the Premier’s attacks on prosecutorial independence: 

“Danielle Smith is the first and only Premier to have been found to have broken the Conflicts of Interest Act, because she attempted to interfere in a court case for her friend. The Ethics Commissioner required her to go to mandatory training on the separation of powers. This week, she’s done it again. She does not respect prosecutorial independence. 

“It’s clear from her recent statements she has learned nothing in her mandatory ‘how to be Premier’ training. Danielle Smith is not the Queen. Yet she weighed in, once again, on a case before the courts and implied Crown prosecutors were not doing their jobs. She should answer why---instead of trying to interfere in individual cases---she is not working with other provinces and the federal government on meaningful reforms in the justice system. 

“This is a disturbing pattern of unethical behaviour from the Premier. As the Ethics Commissioner found, the Premier does not respect the independence of the judiciary or the Crown Prosecution Service. The Ethics Commissioner said her actions amounted to ‘an improper attempt to influence the independence of the legal system.’ The comments this week continue her inappropriate conduct and are being rightly condemned by many in the legal profession. 

“Alberta’s New Democrats deeply respect the role of all officials in our justice system, including the Crown prosecutors and police, to improve public safety. Anything less than this respect will lead to a further weakening of our democracy.”  

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