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Provincial Politics

Premier Smith visits rural Alberta to lend voice to local byelection candidate

Jun 10, 2025 | 3:53 PM

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is winning applause but also facing pointed questions from party members ahead of an upcoming rural byelection.

Smith, in her role as United Conservative Party leader, appeared at a town hall meeting attended by about 300 in Three Hills this week.

She came with Tara Sawyer, who is running under the party banner in the June 23 byelection in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.

Smith got a warm welcome and saw strong support for her government’s policies, including her demand for a better deal from the federal government.

But she faced questions about the U-C-P appointing its candidate, and why residents haven’t seen an all-candidate debate in the riding.

Sawyer says she’s not opposed to a forum, but cited scheduling conflicts.

Smith says Sawyer needed to be appointed as a candidate quickly in order to hold three provincial byelections on the same date.

(The Canadian Press)