NDP leader Rachel Notley had The Counter Signal’s Keean Bexte kicked out from the press pool ahead of making an announcement on Calgary funding.
On Monday, Bexte had planned to ask Notley about her party member candidates like Druh Farrell and MLA Janice Irwin, who’ve both previously expressed strong anti-police statements.
But before Notley’s NDP team would even begin their announcement on Monday, they had Bexte removed from the press pool.
“Despite tweeting out an invitation for media to ask her questions, Rachel Notley’s Chief of Staff has ordered me to leave, saying they ‘won’t entertain my questions.’ Should I wait for the ex-premier to arrive?” Bexte tweeted.
After Notley’s announcement, a reporter asked her why she thinks it’s okay to kick out certain reporters.
“So I’m happy to take other questions,” she responded.
Notley was later pressed by another reporter.
“It’s absolutely incumbent on everybody to take questions from mainstream accredited journalists,” Notley replied.
Bexte is an accredited journalist with the Alberta Legislature by order of the speaker of Legislative Assembly of Alberta. He’s also accredited with the Independent Press Gallery of Canada.
In other words, while Bexte is an accredited journalist, he’s not “mainstream” enough for Notley.
Notley then suggested The Western Standard, another outlet that was denied access, violated the human rights code in Alberta. She said one member from the outlet made “homophobic” comments regarding a politician.
“We have a human rights code in Alberta… and I will not ever give credence to an organization that attempts to present itself as an objective institution of our society that actively engages in discriminatory, hateful, homophobic behaviour,” she said.
Last week, Danielle Smith announced she would take only one question from reporters rather than the standard one plus a follow up question.
Smith added the change would allow her to “get to more media outlets because as we get into the election campaign, there’s going to be far more interest.”
Notley criticized Smith’s election run-up policy change during the same announcement in which she booted Bexte.
The provincial election takes place May 29. Notley’s NDP and Smith’s UCP are neck and neck, polls show.
