Following harsh criticism that she was cancelling interviews and – along with her Wildrose party candidates – becoming increasingly inaccessible to media, leader Danielle Smith taped an interview with Global News on Tuesday. The interview was scheduled after the Wildrose team cancelled her Wednesday appearance on Global Edmonton and Global Calgary’s Morning News programs. Smith explained she’s been trying to arrange pre-taped interviews lately, because her travel schedule makes it difficult to always come to news studios for live interviews.
During the taped interview which aired Wednesday morning on both Global Edmonton and Calgary, Smith also defends Wildrose candidates who’ve recently come under fire for controversial comments.
“I guess I don’t expect politicians to be perfect, and I don’t think Albertans expect politicians to be perfect,” she says.
“It may well be that we have candidates who could take a little bit more media training and be able to express themselves better,” Smith adds “Part of what we’re bringing to politics, is that we’re not bringing career politicians. We’re bringing together regular men and women who want to get into public office for the right reason, they want to do a public service,” she explains. “From time to time they’re going to make mistakes, and I’m prepared to forgive some of those mistakes and I think the public is too.”
The initial criticism arose when political opponents attacked the Wildrose on Tuesday for failing to engage with the public, alleging leader Danielle Smith has cancelled three interviews and at least 10 Wildrose candidates have missed public forums and debates.
The Conservatives said Wildrose candidates are “missing in action” from Fort McMurray to Lethbridge, and the NDP said Smith — in a bid to preserve her party’s lead in the polls — is dodging tough questions about her stance on climate change and candidates’ social views.
Progressive Conservative Leader Alison Redford said failing to show up for a forum is like a “slap in the face” to constituents.
“I find it ironic that a political party is talking about accountability, they’re putting people forward and asking people to vote for them, but they’re not letting them talk,” Redford said in an interview with the Journal last week.
“Fundamentally, every single Albertan gets to go into a voting station and vote for a candidate — not just a party, but a candidate who has said, ‘I would like to represent you in the legislature.’ … If we have candidates who aren’t showing up, it makes me wonder: What do they think?”
At a news conference Tuesday, Smith said she cancelled morning TV studio interviews with both CTV and Global because the stations were not accommodating her need for sleep.
Still, other party leaders feel her limited accessibility means she’s in damage control mode. NDP Leader Brian Mason suggested Smith is ducking tough questions about her candidates’ social views, including a handful who have expressed criticism of gays and lesbians, same-sex marriage and abortion.
“I think she’s hiding,” Mason said in Edmonton. “Her candidates’ views on gays and lesbians, on climate change, have created problems for her."
“They think they have a lead, they want to protect it. I think it’s wrong. I think Danielle Smith has an obligation to level with Albertans and to be there, to answer the questions, and to talk about what she wants to do. It’s not OK in the last week of an election campaign to start hiding from the voters.”
In response, Wildrose candidates say scheduling conflicts are to blame.
Kevin Kinahan is running for the Wildrose in Lethbridge-West, and Tories allege he didn’t show up for a March 31 forum convened by Outreach, a group of gay, lesbian, queer and transgendered Albertans.
“I find it ridiculous,” Kinahan said. “That is the one forum I was not able to attend, however I have attended three other forums with a fourth forum yet to go, and it was simply a scheduling conflict on that date.
“It’s certainly not like we’re ducking and hiding, we’re trying to meet as many people as possible,” he said, adding Wildrose opponents started spreading “misinformation” like this about his party as soon as they started to soar in the polls.
Tories also say Lethbridge-East candidate Kent Prestage failed to attend the same forum. He could not be reached for comment.
On April 9, Conservatives said Calgary-Greenway candidate and pastor Ron Leech did not attend a radio debate. Campaign manager Ali Waissi said his candidate missed the forum for religious reasons.
“Easter is one of the holiest days in Christianity, so I don’t think anyone would show up,” Waissi said.
Conservatives also say party strategist and Senate candidate Vitor Marciano appeared on behalf of the Wildrose at two Alberta Teachers’ Association forums and at an Edmonton Public Schools forum. Marciano said he was just filling in when other candidates couldn’t make it.
“I don’t know where this myth of the gagged candidate is coming from,” Marciano said. “I was pinch hitting. But these debates are about Wildrose policies — what difference does it make which candidate delivers?”
Tories say Edmonton-Highlands Norwood candidate Wayde Lever did not attend the Chinese Seniors Forum on March 30 and sent a substitute in his place, but Lever says he was never notified of the debate."
“I didn’t know anything about a forum at the Chinese Elders Mansion,” Lever said. “If I had known about the forum, I would have been there.”
Tories also allege that Fort McMurray candidates Guy Boutilier and Doug Faulkner won’t take part in that city’s Chamber of Commerce interviews — allegations both men deny.
“Doug was tied up with other engagements with church and family,” Faulkner’s campaign office said in an unsigned email to the Journal. “We requested a change of times with our chamber. We understand that our opponents were given a change but our request went unanswered.”
Boutilier, an incumbent Wildrose MLA, said: “It’s simply not true. It’s just more of the PC shenanigans. But it’s simply not true.”
In Banff-Cochrane, Conservatives said Wildrose candidate Tom Copithorne hasn’t attended four separate panels, despite attempts to accommodate his schedule.
His campaign spokeswoman, Amanda Copithorne, said: “It’s a shock to us that this has been brought up.” She said Tom Copithorne missed one forum because party leader Smith was in town, and that a second was cancelled.
“Of all the (forums) that we know about, we are confirmed, because we want to participate in all of them, obviously,” Copithorne said.
Tories said Wildrose candidate Shane McAllister missed a forum in his riding of Calgary-Mountain View on April 12. McAllister told the Journal he was at home with his seven-year-old son, who was ill.
The Conservatives have also alleged that Drayton Valley-Devon candidate Dean Shular “has refused to participate in proposed forums.” Shular could not be reached for comment.
With files from Brent Wittmeier
Postmedia