Danielle Smith

Marlaina Danielle Smith (born April 1, 1971) is a Canadian politician, former lobbyist, former columnist and media personality who has served as the 19th premier of Alberta and leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) since 2022. Born in Calgary, Smith attended the University of Calgary and earned degrees in English and economics. After briefly serving as a trustee for the Calgary Board of Education, she worked as a journalist in print, radio and television, offering opinions on politics and healthcare. During this period she also worked as the director of provincial affairs for Alberta with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Smith entered provincial politics in 2009 when she became the leader of the Wildrose Party. She contributed to the growth of the party and led it in the 2012 general election, in which it became the Official Opposition with her winning the seat of Highwood in the Legislative Assembly. Smith served as Leader of the Opposition until resigning in 2014 to join the governing Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta (PCs). She was defeated in her bid for the PC nomination in Highwood for the 2015 general election. Between 2015 and 2022, Smith worked in talk radio and served as the president of the Alberta Enterprise Group. After Premier Jason Kenney announced his resignation in May 2022, Smith announced her candidacy for the United Conservative Party leadership election. On October 6, Smith won the leadership on the sixth ballot. She was sworn in as premier on October 11, and became the MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat after a by-election on November 8. She led the UCP to re-election with a reduced majority government in the 2023 general election. Smith's policies have primarily focused on extending Albertan provincial autonomy. In 2022, her government passed the Alberta Sovereignty Act, which seeks to protect Alberta from federal policies it deems detrimental to the province. Smith's government has also proposed an Alberta Pension Plan to replace the Canada Pension Plan and announced a referendum featuring ten questions, including one on separating from Canada.[edit]