In a political landscape all too often riddled with leaders happy to abandon their principles for what’s popular, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stands as a defiant exception. 

At this weekend’s Annual General Meeting in Red Deer, Alberta’s Conservatives have a choice: they can either back Smith, or jump ship. 

The Premier is likely to win, but the real question is, by how much? 

For years, Alberta’s Conservative Governments have timidly tiptoed around the social and cultural battles that shape the collective destiny of this province of ours. But not Smith. 

Her administration marks a watershed moment, not merely for Alberta, but for the future of Canadian Conservatism itself.

Under her leadership, Smith dared to return Alberta to a grounded reality, one that favours true diversity of thought and most importantly, prosperity for all over woke demands of Big Diversity.

Smith has also taken on what is perhaps the defining cultural issue of our age—transgender ideology, aka gender ideology, particularly as it pertains to children. 

Just this week, she introduced a sweeping ban on gender reassignment surgeries for minors, prohibiting puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for anyone under the age of 16. 

Smith’s new regulations also require parental notification and consent before a child under 16 can change their name or pronouns in school. 

Furthermore, she has safeguarded women’s sports by banning biological males from competing. 

These are not radical measures but common-sense protections that give parents their rightful voice in their children’s lives and defend spaces where biology matters. 

Through her Alberta Bill of Rights Amendment Act, Smith has enshrined a new series of protections, embedding core freedoms into law to safeguard the rights of Albertans for generations to come. 

Her amendments, including the right to refuse vaccines, strengthened property rights, and affirming the legal right to own and use firearms, reflect her belief in individual choice and responsibility—Canadian rights that the Trudeau government has thoroughly violated. 

In protecting citizens’ right to live and act freely, Smith is solidifying Alberta’s place as a bastion of liberty and a shining example for all of Canada. What distinguishes Smith is her commitment to transparency and dialogue. She has notably defied her predecessors by remaining open to independent media outlets like The Counter Signal, refusing to shy away from the hard-hitting journalism not found in legacy media today. 

Her accessibility is a refreshing antidote to the leaders who refuse to step outside of the legacy media bubble. The premier has also cracked down on crime, making Alberta safer. Alberta’s Fugitive Apprehension Sheriffs Support Team (FASST) has already arrested over 300 fugitives, serving over 1,300 warrants since it became operational in February. These are not just numbers; they represent a significant reduction in the province’s most dangerous offenders. 

Smith has also improved the lives of rural Albertans and our hardworking farmers. Her government has invested $4.3 million in specialized plainclothes surveillance teams to fight rural crime, providing Alberta’s farmers and ranchers a measure of security after years of feeling abandoned. When the federal government’s efforts have fallen short, Smith’s administration has demonstrated that it is possible to act decisively to protect citizens.

In Calgary, Smith rescued the city from the looming disaster of the Green Line project, a bureaucratic nightmare that was destined to drain Alberta’s coffers without delivering sustainable results. She strayed away from the misguided idealism that treats taxpayer money like a blank cheque. 

In contrast, Smith has been frugal and strategic with public spending, only backing projects that can realize tangible gains for Alberta.

Premier Smith’s critics within the United Conservative Party are quick to point out perceived flaws while falling under the sway of fantasies for alternative leadership. Some of them openly want to see a “moderate” or red Tory step into Smith’s shoes. This would surely steer the party and Alberta towards disaster. 

These delusions are also playing directly into the hands of those who want to see Alberta fall back into the socialist destitution seen under NDP premier Rachel Notley. Even worse, it would lead to division within the United Conservative Party, paving the way for current NDP leader Naheed Nenshi to become Premier.

If there is a leader who can restore Alberta’s greatness, who can champion conservative values with strength, it is Danielle Smith.