Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The executive director of Premier Danielle Smith’s office says that instead of criticizing her, First Nations chiefs should fix their own communities, describing them as entrenched in poverty, drugs and violence.
Bruce McAllister, in a post on social media Thursday, says the chiefs should focus on their own problems rather than having “the gall” to accuse the premier of treason over Alberta’s looming separation referendum.
McAllister accused the chiefs of engaging in “childish nonsense” and said their misaligned priorities make him wonder if they’re taking orders from someone else.
“People are sick and tired of hearing unrealistic demands from them,” McAllister writes.
“It might be tolerable if their communities were beacons of prosperity, safety, strong families and real accountability, but sadly, they’re anything but.”
He said they need to fix “heartbreaking” problems such as addictions and overdoses, housing, poverty, high unemployment, welfare, substandard schooling outcomes, high rates of children in care and domestic violence.
“Shouldn’t the priority be fixing these failures for their people?” said McAllister.
“I know we have a premier and government that care deeply about these serious issues and want to help fix them.”
McAllister acknowledged he was steering into controversy.
“I’ll probably take heat for saying these things but if we don’t, we continue to bury our heads in the sand and pretend they aren’t happening,” his post said.
First Nations across Alberta are stepping up in their fight against Alberta separation. As CBC’s Nicole Healey explains, the Treaty 8 First Nations are demanding the province end any attempt to proceed with a separation referendum without full consultation.
The post comes after the Assembly of Treaty Chiefs, representing First Nations across Alberta, voted to ask RCMP to look into whether the Oct. 19 referendum amounts to criminal treason by Smith and her United Conservative Party.
Earlier this week, the chiefs said organizing the vote is an intentional treaty violation and Smith’s government is ignoring serious risks to Canada’s sovereignty.
Smith responded to that Wednesday, telling reporters the chiefs should “check themselves” for such an inflammatory accusation.
Smith’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Not the first accusation of treason
Anne Many Heads, CEO for the Treaty 7 First Nations Chiefs’ Association, said in an email that the Stoney Nakoda and Tsuut’ina Nation chiefs reserved comment when asked to respond to McAllister’s tweet. She said the chiefs support their earlier statement calling for Smith to be called to account for treason.
It’s not the first time accusations of treason have been thrown around in the separation debate.
In January, B.C. Premier David Eby said a meeting between an Alberta separatist group and the U.S. administration amounted to treason.
According to the Criminal Code, treason is narrowly defined. It includes sharing sensitive information “for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or defence of Canada” with another state, or the use of force or violence in order to overthrow a Canadian government.
Smith’s United Conservative government and the chiefs have been at odds in the separation debate, with First Nations winning a recent court decision to quash a separatist petition because the government neglected its duty to consult them.
On Thursday, a judge heard arguments for a potential stay of that ruling, but reserved her decision for the time being.
On Oct. 19, Albertans will vote on whether to stay in Canada or hold a second referendum on leaving Confederation.
Smith has championed the pro-Canada cause. She says she was obliged to call the vote in order to settle a debate reflected by hundreds of thousands of Albertans signing petitions for and against separation.
Critics call it a cynical tightrope walk by Smith to save her job by launching a referendum to assuage the separatist hardliners in her party while stumping for a united Canada in order to stay onside with the majority of voters.
McAllister has been the focus of controversy before.
The moderator of the Alberta Next Panel apologized on the social platform X for a comment he made during a town hall in Calgary. Bruce McAllister, executive director of the premier’s office, told a high school student ‘your parents should turn you over your knee’ for trying to ask an off-topic question during a segment on the idea of a provincial police force.
Last fall, while moderating a public meeting, he suggested a teen should be spanked for demanding answers on a looming teachers strike. McAllister later apologized.
