Danielle Smith threatens CBC with legal action over second 'defamatory' article
The public broadcaster reported on a leaked February 9 call between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Christian Pastor Artur Pawlowski. Smith says she had weekly contact with 'prosecutors' on his criminal charges stemming from the Coutts border blockade.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has fired back at CBC following a second "defamatory" story on alleged interference by the Premier's Office on Crown prosecutors.
A letter to the public broadcaster from Smith's lawyers is demanding they retract a second news story, "manufacturing controversy," that her office contacted Alberta Justice on giving amnesty to violators of COVID lockdown measures.
The letter claims, "related recent CBC News articles and broadcasts…seek to sensationalize allegations already fully addressed by the Premier and resuscitate a false and defamatory narrative against the Premier, her office, Alberta Crown prosecutors, and the administration of justice in Alberta."
It cited the first "defamatory" article published on January 9, where the public broadcaster referenced anonymous sources that claimed the premier's office contacted Crown prosecutors. She called the reporting "unsourced and unfounded."
BREAKING:
— Alex Dhaliwal (@westcdnfirst) March 29, 2023
“According to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, the CBC intends to release another 'defamatory' article on her — this time on a conversation she had with Pastor Artur Pawlowski.”
Expect further updates later today.https://t.co/d6jYqPYXsy
CBC claimed Smith's "improper" conduct constituted "pure interference with Crown independence," despite adding a disclosure several hours after publication that they had not seen the emails in question.
Smith's legal team called this "irresponsible reporting" by the CBC, alleging they are "sensationalizing a political narrative."
An internal investigation by Alberta Justice searched for "any emails sent to or received by the relevant prosecutors and staff in the premier's office over four months."
According to a Justice spokesperson, the search included all emails in the government mailboxes, including emails from or to a non-government email address.
They did not uncover any record of electronic communication between the PO and the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS). Smith said she's confident in its findings.
BREAKING: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith condemns the CBC for publishing a "defamatory article" last week on rumours her staff sent crown prosecutors emails about the Coutts blockade.https://t.co/R7XS6sytp4
— Rebel News Canada (@RebelNews_CA) January 25, 2023
"With the Email Article now demonstrably baseless, the Premier and her office demanded a retraction and an apology from the CBC, including an apology to Alberta Crown prosecutors, for the harm done to individual reputations and Alberta's justice system," the letter continues.
On January 25, Chuck Thompson, head of public affairs for CBC, said the public broadcaster stands behind the journalism in its first report despite running the story without seeing the emails.
The public broadcaster reported on a leaked February 9 call between Smith and Christian Pastor Artur Pawlowski. Smith said she had weekly contact with "prosecutors" on his criminal charges stemming from the Coutts border blockade.
"As I previously stated, I had my staff work with the Ministry of Justice to determine if anything could be done to grant amnesty for those charged with non-violent, non-firearms COVID-related charges," she told Pawlowski.
"As indicated in multiple interviews, I received a legal brief from the Ministry of Justice recommending against pursuing amnesty further as several matters involving this issue were and still are before the courts."
Rebel News Commander Ezra Levant landed in Lethbridge, Alberta, Thursday morning to cover the latest criminal prosecution of Artur Pawlowski, the Christian pastor who refused to close his church during the province's 'draconian' COVID lockdowns.
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) February 2, 2023
MORE: https://t.co/iS5ekJrf1c pic.twitter.com/RBUiybmMGj
Rob Anderson, executive director of the premier's office, confirmed his role on the file was to ask for a legal opinion from Alberta Justice on granting amnesty for those facing non-violent, non-firearms related COVID charges.
"I obtained that legal opinion from the Ministry of Justice and provided it to the Premier as requested," he said. "[I have never] contacted the Crown Prosecution Service regarding this or any related matter."
Smith contends that she took her Attorney General's advice and never spoke with Crown Prosecutors, nor have any of her staff.
In the letter, her lawyers write:
Nearly two months later, apparently seeing a need to revive a manufactured controversy, the CBC blatantly ignores the Premier's prior statements [again] and recasts the harmful and defamatory narrative of unlawful interference and deceit by the Premier and her office.
Smith's lawyers demanded a public retraction and apology from the public broadcaster. "Should you fail to comply with this request by Friday, April 28, 2023, the Premier will take such further legal action as may be advised," they write.
WATCH: @EzraLevant explains how the CBC was trying to smear Rebel News, and how Alberta Premier Danielle Smith doesn't simply just listen to the pro-Trudeau shills at the state broadcaster. Instead, Smith considers other opinions.
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) January 25, 2023
MORE: https://t.co/VT5lpGcA3w pic.twitter.com/wU6TjvCk3c
The letter says, "We hereby provide notice of our client's intention to bring an action against the CBC, as may be required under the Defamation Act."
Thompson responded on Monday that the CBC stands by its journalism on the second story and would "defend it in court" if necessary.
"Absent an apology, retraction and correction from the CBC, the Premier will not be commenting further on this matter," the letter concluded.
Don't Get Censored
Big Tech is censoring us. Sign up so we can always stay in touch.