A Canadian political scientist suggests that on many fronts, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is a “disruptor” willing to explore policy and diplomatic routes starkly divergent from her fellow provincial leaders and the federal government in Ottawa. 

King’s University College political professor Dr. Jacquetta Newman cites the United Conservative Party leader’s approach to Canada’s tariffs imbroglio with Donald Trump’s administration, medical assistance in dying (MAiD), gender identity and her reshaping of the provincial healthcare system as examples of Smith “staking out the outlier position.”

Newman alluded to an interview Smith gave to CBC News before Christmas that saw the Alberta premier declare “I think what happens is often Conservative governments are too cautious” as key to understanding Smith.  

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“I think the notion of her self-identification is that of a disruptor even dating back to her time on talk radio,” said Newman. “That is part and parcel of that statement of Conservative governments being too cautious.”

Newman said Smith’s challenges to the federal government on various issues also plays well with her base demanding Alberta First outcomes — while Ottawa zigs, Alberta zags. 

Amid public health systems, and Canadians generally, evidentially embracing euthanasia, Smith launched a public consultation to receive feedback from Albertans. The information-gathering process invited residents to consider if there should be new assisted suicide eligibility limitations, a MAiD decision dispute mechanism for family members and whether a new oversight agency needs to be created. 

Currently, Alberta’s ministries of justice, health and mental health and addiction are reviewing the findings. 

Specifically, in the case of scrutinizing MAiD, Smith’s break from the status quo is welcomed by Catholics critical of Quebec- and Ottawa-driven secular consensus on this issue. Nicole Scheidl, executive director of Canadian Physicians for Life, applauded the UCP government’s approach.

“While euthanasia is always an injustice to the person, it is a good starting point for governments to increase their oversight to better protect the vulnerable by preventing exceptionally egregious abuses,” Scheidl said. “The Alberta consultation is much more open-ended than the consultations we have seen at the national level.”

Scheidl heard from doctors, lawyers and disability advocates who engaged in the public consultation, all of whom “found their participation meaningful and worthwhile.”

It was a process that saw direct engagement from the Catholic Bishops of Alberta/Northwest Territories. Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith, Calgary Bishop William McGrattan and others jointly submitted a two-page document outlining how medical-killing procedures are contrary to Church teaching.

“The legal expansion of eligibility for MAiD, including by means of advance euthanasia requests, will only serve further to erode respect for the essential dignity of the human person and the common good of society,” wrote the Alberta and NWT bishops. 

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Smith’s ambitious proposal to restructure health care in Alberta by transferring some control of hospitals from Alberta Health Services (AHS) to the Catholic provider Covenant Health — a plan derided by the Alberta Medical Association and the Alberta Union of Public Employees, among others — also impressed Scheidl.

“I am encouraged by Danielle Smith’s leadership in this area and her openness to a diversity of approaches to meet the diversity of needs in the health-care space,” said Smith. “Catholic health care has played an important role in the development of health care in Canada and there should be a space for it to continue its mission of service.”

Smith told attendees at a UCP town hall last summer that her decision-making on the public health file is motivated by wanting to introduce more competition. 

“When you’re dealing with a monopoly, and they believe that they can deliver any type of care, and there are no consequences, they’re going to continue to deliver bad service,” said Smith. “And competition is one option. That’s why we’re offering chartered surgical centres and why we’re offering Covenant.”

While her health-care reforms garnered a lot of attention, both positive and negative, arguably the most defining actions Smith took in 2024 were the policies she introduced on student pronouns, gender-affirming treatments, sex education and transgender sports participation. 

The trio of bills she introduced passed debate in the Alberta legislature in December and are due to become law by the autumn. They require consent for children under 16 changing their pronouns, parental notification if a school is to teach gender ideology, a ban on gender reassignment surgeries for minors under 15 and banning transgender athletes from women’s sport, among others.

While attracting derision from mainstream media outlets, and promises of litigation from LGBT groups, she earned kudos from the group Parents as First Educators (P.A.F.E.). President Teresa Pierre praised Smith “for taking a courageous stand on the importance of the parental role within the family.”

Smith’s approach to safeguarding parental rights does indeed place her in the minority among premiers — Scott Moe in Saskatchewan and former New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs were just two others who enacted parent-friendly policies.

However, her stance and diplomatic conduct amid the burgeoning tariff crisis with the U.S. are perhaps the most striking examples of her willingness to take the road less travelled yet. 

Smith was willing to break ranks with her provincial counterparts and Justin Trudeau’s Liberals Team Canada approach that endorsed an “everything is on the table” retaliatory arsenal that would include cutting off oil exports. Ninety-seven per cent of Canada’s crude oil exports go to the U.S., which includes 87 per cent of Alberta’s product. 

She also ventured down to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate to network with members of his cabinet, and even met the President multiple times. Smith is also a contrarian voice in suggesting Canada do everything possible to give Trump wins on border security and NATO spending to avoid a trade war rather than drawing up “dollar-for-dollar” battle plans. 

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While in many ways she stood alone before the inauguration, Moe and Quebec’s Francois Legault have made comments in recent days about avoiding across-the-board major retaliation, which edges them closer to Smith’s position. 

Time will tell about what — if any — wins will emerge from Smith’s decision to go her own way.