Danielle Smith

Marlaina Danielle Smith{{cite web |title=Candidate – Marlaina Danielle Smith Campaign 2015 |url=http://efpublic.elections.ab.ca/efCandidates.cfm?MODE=BROWSE2&EDS=ALL&MID=FC_C_2012&FID=21&CID=953 |access-date=September 14, 2012 |publisher=Elections Alberta |archive-date=October 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007160116/https://efpublic.elections.ab.ca/efFC.cfm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=2012 Candidate Campaign Period Return Wildrose Alliance Political Association 63 - Highwood Candidate: Marlaina Danielle Smith |url=https://efpublic.elections.ab.ca/efFinancialStatement.cfm?ACID=13867 |access-date=2 February 2024 |publisher=Elections Alberta }} was born in Calgary{{Cite news |last=Platt |first=Michael |date=October 11, 2022 |title=Alberta's new premier a UCalgary graduate |url=https://ucalgary.ca/news/albertas-new-premier-ucalgary-graduate |access-date=February 1, 2024 |work=UCalgary News}} on April 1, 1971,{{cite news |last1=Sharpe |first1=Sydney |date=14 April 2012 |title=Danielle Smith: Is she Alberta's Sarah Palin, or the future of Canada? |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/danielle-smith-is-she-albertas-sarah-palin-or-the-future-of-canada/article4100600/ |access-date=13 October 2022}} the second of five children. She is the daughter of Sharon (Hawkins) and Doug Smith, an oilfield consultant and previously a board member for the Wildrose Party.{{Cite web |last=Henton |first=Darcy |date=March 27, 2012 |title=Mr. Smith, do you really know what the Wildrose is up to? |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/mr-smith-do-you-really-know-what-the-wildrose-is-up-to |website=Calgary Herald |access-date=August 21, 2023}}{{cite web | url=https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-says-she-has-cherokee-roots-but-the-records-dont-back-her-up/ | title=Danielle Smith says she has Cherokee roots, but there's no record of them | date=November 16, 2022 }} She is named after the song Marlena by The Four Seasons.{{Cite news |last=Markusoff |first=Jason |date=October 6, 2022 |title=The reinvention(s) of Danielle Smith: How Alberta's next premier talked her way out of political oblivion to become the Great Right Hope |url=https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/Danielle-Smith-Alberta-premier-UCP |website=CBC News}}

Growing up, her family lived in subsidized housing.{{cite news |last=Verma |first=Sonia |date=November 12, 2010 |title=Danielle Smith: 'My life will fall under the microscope' |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/danielle-smith-my-life-will-fall-under-the-microscope/article1797368/ |url-status=dead |access-date=April 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210203438/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/danielle-smith-my-life-will-fall-under-the-microscope/article1797368/ |archive-date=February 10, 2011}} As a student she worked at McDonald's, at a bingo parlour and at restaurants bussing tables.

Smith described her parents as "reliably conservative" in an interview with the National Post. When Smith was a grade 8 student, she said she came home praising a teacher who spoke positively about communism, and her father argued otherwise.{{Cite web |last=Dawson |first=Tyler |date=2023-04-27 |title=The comeback queens: Rachel Notley vs Danielle Smith in the battle for Alberta |url=https://nationalpost.com/feature/rachel-notley-vs-danielle-smith-alberta-election-2023 |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=National Post |language=en-CA}} Smith said she had family in Ukraine, which was part of the Soviet Union at the time. "Then he realized we needed to talk a lot more around the dinner table," Smith told The Canadian Press in 2014.

She is also a past member of the Girl Guides of Canada and was featured in a 2013 museum exhibit about prominent Girl Guides at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery.{{cite news |date=October 1, 2013 |title=Guides change with times |language=en-US |work=Red Deer Advocate |url=https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/guides-change-with-times/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301160626/https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/guides-change-with-times/ |archive-date=March 1, 2021}} She is a fan of the young-adult fantasy novel Eragon by Christopher Paolini, and once considered becoming a novelist in the science fiction and fantasy genres.{{Cite web |last=Fong |first=Petti |date=2012-04-20 |title=Alberta election: The education of Danielle Smith |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012/04/20/alberta_election_the_education_of_danielle_smith.html |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=The Toronto Star |language=en}}

Smith attended the University of Calgary and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1993 and economics in 1995. The university had a strong culture of conservative and progressive political activism and debate when Smith was a student. Her classmates included Ezra Levant; Rob Anders; Naheed Nenshi; and Kevin Bosch, who became an adviser to prime ministers Paul Martin and Justin Trudeau. One of her classes was taught by former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed. The same class had Ian Brodie, who became chief of staff for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as a teachers' aide. It was at the University of Calgary where she met Tom Flanagan, a conservative political activist and advisor, who was a professor in the political science department while Smith studied economics. Flanagan became a mentor for Smith.

In 1996, Flanagan recommended Smith for a one-year public policy internship with the Fraser Institute. During her time here, she coauthored a paper called "Environmental Indicators for Canada and the United States" with Boris DeWiel, Steven F. Hayward, and Laura Jones - which sought to "separate the facts from alarmist misinformation," and "bring balance to the environmental debate". The report argued that "contrary to public opinion, in most instances objectives for protecting human health and the environment are being met, pollution and wastes are being controlled, and resources and land are being sustainably and effectively managed".{{Cite web |last1=DeWiel |first1=Boris |last2=Hayward |first2=Steven |last3=Jones |first3=Laura |last4=Danielle |first4=Smith |date=1 March 1997 |title=Environmental Indicators for Canada and the United States |url=https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/EnvironmentalIndicators1997Intro.pdf |access-date=December 12, 2023 |website=Fraser Institute}}

Flanagan later became her campaign manager during the 2012 Alberta general election. She was active in the campus Progressive Conservatives and was eventually elected president of the club.{{cite news |last=Wood |first=James |date=April 1, 2012 |title=Party leader profile: Wildrose Party Danielle Smith |newspaper=Calgary Herald |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/Party+leader+profile+Wildrose+Party+Danielle+Smith+with+video/6393201/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403181353/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Party+leader+profile+Wildrose+Party+Danielle+Smith+with+video/6393201/story.html |archive-date=April 3, 2012}} She also became involved in political campaigning and met her first husband, Sean McKinsley. After graduating with an English major, Smith briefly lived in Vancouver where she worked as a waitress and as an extra in movie and TV productions.

In 1998, Smith entered politics when she ran for the board of trustees of the Calgary Board of Education. She won, but less than a year later, the chairwoman complained that the board had become dysfunctional. In response, the provincial Minister of Learning, Lyle Oberg, dismissed the entire board after 11 months into their term.

Years later, Smith said she had been far too strident during her tenure as a board trustee and said the experience taught her to be more tolerant of those with whom she disagreed. Subsequently, Smith pursued work as an advocate for ranchers, farmers and other rural landowners with the Alberta Property Rights Initiative and the Canadian Property Rights Research Institute.{{cite news |date=March 19, 2012 |title=Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith |newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wildrose-leader-danielle-smith-1.1164293 |url-status=live |access-date=April 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331214226/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/albertavotes2012/story/2012/03/16/albertavotes2012-profile-wildrose-smith.html |archive-date=March 31, 2012}} During her time at the Canadian Property Rights Research Institute, she coauthored a paper on endangered species.

After her time as a school board trustee Smith joined the Calgary Herald as a columnist with the editorial board. During the 1999–2000 writers' strike at the Herald, she crossed the picket line as a strikebreaker writer for the paper, at that time owned by Conrad Black.{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2020 |title=The 1999-2000 herald Strike, 20 Years Later |url=https://albertaadvantagepod.com/2020/01/12/the-1999-2000-herald-strike-20-years-later/ |access-date=July 20, 2023}} Her columns included coverage of city hall and health reform, but also ventured into other topics. In 2003, she wrote a column supporting the legalisation of sex work and proposed the creation of a red-light district in Calgary.{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2012 |title=And the First Big Issue is – Prostitution? Read Redford's attack, Smith's old column |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/and-the-first-big-issue-is-prostitution-read-redfords-attack-smiths-old-column |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=Calgary Herald |language=en-CA}} That same year, she also wrote an article titled "Anti-smoking lobby does more harm than good", in which she stated that smoking cigarettes can "reduce the risk of disease".{{Cite web |last=Magusiak |first=Stephen |date=2022-07-26 |title=Danielle Smith Claimed Smoking Cigarettes Had Positive Health Benefits |url=https://pressprogress.ca/danielle-smith-claimed-smoking-cigarettes-had-positive-health-benefits/ |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=PressProgress |language=en}}

She then went on to succeed Charles Adler as host of the national current affairs program Global Sunday, a Sunday-afternoon interview show on Global Television. She also hosted two talk radio programs focused on health policy and property rights.

She met her second husband, David Moretta, who was an executive producer with Global Television at the time and would go on to be a former executive producer with Sun Media.

In 2004, Smith was named one of Calgary's "Top 40 Under 40".{{cite web |title=Top 40 Under 40 Alumni |url=http://www.avenuecalgary.com/articles/page/item/top-40-under-40-alumni |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219034701/http://www.avenuecalgary.com/articles/page/item/top-40-under-40-alumni |archive-date=February 19, 2012 |access-date=April 1, 2012 |publisher=Avenue Calgary}}

In September 2006, she co-hosted the Calgary Congress, a national assembly of citizens and economic and constitutional specialists to consider basic federal reforms for Canada.{{cite web |title=The Calgary Congress 2006 |url=http://www.ccfd.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=230&Itemid=230 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706171856/http://www.ccfd.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=230&Itemid=230 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |access-date=August 10, 2009 |publisher=Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy}}

Smith was hired by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in 2006, becoming a provincial director for Alberta. While employed here, she coauthored a paper called "Achieving Eco-prosperity"

During the 2006 PC leadership election, Smith supported Ted Morton. Morton lost to Ed Stelmach, and Smith became increasingly disillusioned with what she said were Stelmach's "free-spending ways". Smith cited the 2008 provincial budget as a turning point where she determined that Stelmach's government had 'lost its way'.{{cite web |date=April 1, 2012 |title=Danielle Smith Wildrose Leader profile |url=https://calgaryherald.com/Danielle+Smith+Wildrose+Leader+profile/6393109/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420075618/http://www.calgaryherald.com/Danielle+Smith+Wildrose+Leader+profile/6393109/story.html |archive-date=April 20, 2012 |access-date=April 1, 2012 |publisher=Calgary Herald}}

Smith quit the PC party in 2009 and joined the Wildrose Alliance.{{cite news|last=Sharpe|first=Sydney|title=Danielle Smith: Is she Alberta's Sarah Palin, or the future of Canada?|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/danielle-smith-is-she-albertas-sarah-palin-or-the-future-of-canada/article2402264/|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=April 14, 2012|location=Toronto|date=April 16, 2012|archive-date=April 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416224447/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/danielle-smith-is-she-albertas-sarah-palin-or-the-future-of-canada/article2402264/|url-status=dead}} The Tories sent MLA Rob Anderson, one of the more fiscally conservative members of their caucus, to talk Smith out of it. Years later, Smith recalled that Anderson told her that despite the Tories' reckless spending and unwillingness to listen to the backbench, they were the only credible centre-right party in the province. Smith refused to stay, saying that there was no hope of restoring Alberta to fiscal sanity under the Tories, and that the Wildrose was the only credible chance at electing a fiscally conservative government. As far as she was concerned, she told Anderson, "This (Tory) government is beyond redemption. It's out of control."{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Dean |last2=Strojek |first2=Sylvia |title=Rise And Fall Of Alberta Wildrose Party Inextricably Linked To Danielle Smith |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/12/17/danielle-smith-wildrose_n_6344102.html |work=Huffpost Alberta |agency=The Canadian Press |date=December 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220225109/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/12/17/danielle-smith-wildrose_n_6344102.html |archive-date=December 20, 2014}}

Later that year, Smith was recruited by Wildrose officials to run for the leadership of the party.{{cite news|title=Two announce bid for Wildrose Alliance leadership|url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/two-announce-bid-for-wildrose-alliance-leadership-1.405610|access-date=April 2, 2012|newspaper=CTV News|agency=The Canadian Press|date=June 7, 2009|archive-date=October 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025132118/http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/two-announce-bid-for-wildrose-alliance-leadership-1.405610|url-status=live}} During the course of the leadership campaign outgoing leader Paul Hinman won in a by-election in the riding of Calgary-Glenmore.{{cite news|title=Tories stunning defeat sends strong message to Stelmach|url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/tories-stunning-defeat-sends-strong-message-to-stelmach-1.434423|access-date=April 2, 2012|newspaper=CTV News|first1=Stewart |last1=Shaw|date=September 15, 2009|archive-date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518235335/http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/tories-stunning-defeat-sends-strong-message-to-stelmach-1.434423|url-status=live}} His win meant he was one of four in the Wildrose caucus; by the time Smith was elected leader on October 17, 2009, support for the party had quadrupled since the 2008 election.{{cite web|title=Provincial Vote Intention Alberta Public Opinion Study – Fall 2009|url=http://www.lethbridgecollege.ca/sites/default/files/imce/about-us/applied-research/csrl/alberta_provincial_vote_intention_fall_2009.pdf|publisher=Lethbridge College|access-date=April 2, 2012|date=October 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530143403/http://www.lethbridgecollege.ca/sites/default/files/imce/about-us/applied-research/csrl/alberta_provincial_vote_intention_fall_2009.pdf|archive-date=May 30, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=New Wildrose leader ready to take on Stelmach Tories|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/new-wildrose-leader-ready-to-take-on-stelmach-tories-1.786001|access-date=April 1, 2012|newspaper=CBC News|date=October 18, 2009|archive-date=October 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007160127/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/new-wildrose-leader-ready-to-take-on-stelmach-tories-1.786001|url-status=live}} After Smith was elected leader, support for the Wildrose Party continued to grow.{{cite news|title=Albertans eyeing Wildrose Alliance|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/albertans-eyeing-wildrose-alliance-1.786000|access-date=April 2, 2012|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=December 29, 2009|archive-date=November 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106032851/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2009/12/29/calgary-wildrose-smith.html|url-status=live}} Smith convinced three PCs who served in government to cross the floor to join the Wildrose Party: Rob Anderson and Heather Forsyth, and later Guy Boutiller.

In early 2011, she was featured in an episode of CBC Television's Make the Politician Work.{{cite news |title=Forget royal weddings. Give me the Queen of Punk |work=The Globe and Mail |first1=John |last1=Doyle |author1-link=John Doyle (critic) |date=January 22, 2011}}

File:Wildrose_Leader_Danielle_Smith.jpgFor most of the time before the 2012 provincial election, it appeared that Smith was poised to become the first woman to lead a party to victory in an Alberta election.{{cite web | url=https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/one-wild-rise/ | title=One wild rise for one wild rose | publisher=Macleans | access-date=August 19, 2022 | first1=Colby |last1=Cosh |date=April 20, 2012 | archive-date=August 19, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819183555/https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/one-wild-rise/ | url-status=live }} Numerous polls indicated that the Wildrose Party could defeat the governing Progressive Conservatives, who were also led by a woman, Premier Alison Redford. The PCs had governed the province since 1971, the second-longest unbroken run in government at the provincial level.{{cite news|last=MacArthur|first=Mary|title=Alberta vote shaping up to be closest one seen in decades|url=http://www.producer.com/daily/alberta-vote-shaping-up-to-be-closest-one-seen-in-decades/|access-date=April 2, 2012|newspaper=The Western Producer|date=March 26, 2012|archive-date=March 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315174531/http://www.producer.com/daily/alberta-vote-shaping-up-to-be-closest-one-seen-in-decades/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=McLean|first=Tanara|title='Break from the past': Wildrose leader|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/03/26/break-from-the-past-wildrose-leader|access-date=April 2, 2012|newspaper=Edmonton Sun|date=March 26, 2012|archive-date=March 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315173557/http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/03/26/break-from-the-past-wildrose-leader|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Thomson|first=Graham|title=Thomson: Countdown to April 23 vote starts today|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/Thomson+Countdown+April+vote+starts+today/6357702/story.html|access-date=April 2, 2012|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|date=March 26, 2012}}

The Wildrose Party won 17 seats{{cite news|title=Social issues sank Wildrose during campaign, experts say|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/alberta-election-2012-wildrose-loss|work=National Post|first1=Kathryn |last1=Blaze Carlson|date=April 24, 2012}} on 34.3% of the popular vote, and took over Official Opposition status from the Alberta Liberal Party. Smith was elected to the Legislature from Highwood, just south of Calgary, on the same day, defeating John Barlow, editor of the Okotoks Western Wheel.{{cite web| url=http://okotoksonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17717&Itemid=33| title=Barlow loses Highwood|date=April 23, 2012| publisher=Okotoks Online| access-date=June 6, 2013| archive-date=March 15, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315184433/http://okotoksonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17717&Itemid=33| url-status=dead}}{{cite web| url=http://www.westernwheel.com/section/whe9902| title=Western Wheel contact page| access-date=June 6, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525085232/http://www.westernwheel.com/section/whe9902| archive-date=May 25, 2013| url-status=dead}}

Political pundits suggested Wildrose lost their early polling lead over the Progressive Conservatives due to Smith's defence of two Wildrose candidates who had made controversial remarks. Allan Hunsperger, running in an Edmonton riding, had written a blog post claiming that gays would end up in a "lake of fire" if they did not renounce their lifestyle. Ron Leech had claimed he would have a leg up on the competition in his Calgary riding because he was white.{{cite web|last=Graveland|first=Bill|title=Alberta Election 2012: Danielle Smith Defends Controversial Candidates Ron Leech And Allan Hunsperger|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/20/alberta-election-2012-danielle-smith_n_1440948.html|date=April 20, 2012|access-date=October 2, 2012|archive-date=April 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426170620/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/20/alberta-election-2012-danielle-smith_n_1440948.html|url-status=dead}} According to the National Post, Hunsperger and Leech's extreme views, as well as Smith's refusal to condemn them, cost her a chance of unseating Redford. Ultimately, Wildrose was denied victory mainly because it was unable to get any foothold in the urban areas. It won only two seats in Calgary and was completely shut out in Edmonton.

In appraising the election results at the Wildrose 2012 annual general meeting, Smith advocated freezing out candidates who cannot respectfully communicate their views in future elections. Smith asked members to adopt a forward-looking policy platform for the next election.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/looking-to-the-future-wildrose-leader-pushes-for-a-more-progressive-approach/article5638894/|work=The Globe and Mail|title=Looking to the future, Wildrose leader pushes for a more progressive approach|date=November 24, 2012|first1=Josh|last1=Wingrove|access-date=August 6, 2013|archive-date=January 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101174418/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/looking-to-the-future-wildrose-leader-pushes-for-a-more-progressive-approach/article5638894/|url-status=live}}

File:Prentice and Smith.jpg announcing that she and eight other Wildrose MLAs would be crossing the floor to join the Progressive Conservatives.]]

After Redford left politics in the spring of 2014 due to allegations of corruption, Smith's Wildrose party was initially the major beneficiary. However, this momentum stalled when former federal cabinet minister Jim Prentice became PC leader and premier. Under Prentice, the PCs swept four by-elections in October. Smith was dealt a second blow at the Wildrose annual general meeting, when an anti-discrimination resolution that she strongly supported was voted down while she was out of the room.{{cite news |title=Danielle Smith speaks out on defection to the Tories |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-speaks-out-on-defection-to-the-tories-1.2878486 |work=CBC News |date=December 18, 2014}} Smith told CBC News that the defeat of the anti-discrimination resolution led her to consider returning to the PCs.

On December 17, 2014, Smith announced that she, deputy leader Rob Anderson, and seven other Wildrose MLAs were crossing the floor to join the PCs.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/danielle-smith-defends-floor-crossing-as-a-victory-for-wildrose-party-1.2880125 | title=Danielle Smith defends floor crossing as 'a victory' for Wildrose Party | work=CBC News |first1=Susana |last1=Mas |date=December 20, 2014 | access-date=August 18, 2022 | archive-date=August 18, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818092617/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/danielle-smith-defends-floor-crossing-as-a-victory-for-wildrose-party-1.2880125 | url-status=live }} Smith had criticized two other Wildrose MLAs for defecting to the PCs a month earlier; she had publicly stated that "there'll be no more floor crossings."{{cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/Wildrose+leader+vows+more+floor+crossings/10416724/story.html |title=Wildrose leader vows 'no more floor-crossings' |last1=Ibrahim |first1=Mariam |date=November 26, 2014 |work=Edmonton Journal |access-date=December 23, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226063424/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Wildrose+leader+vows+more+floor+crossings/10416724/story.html |archive-date=December 26, 2014 }} It was later revealed, however, that Smith and Prentice had been in talks about a possible merger for several months.{{cite news |title=9 Wildrose MLAs, including Danielle Smith, cross to Alberta Tories |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/9-wildrose-mlas-including-danielle-smith-cross-to-alberta-tories-1.2876412 |work=CBC News |date=December 17, 2014}} Smith said that several conversations with Prentice revealed that they shared much common ground, particularly on fiscal issues. Ultimately, she concluded that it made little sense for her to continue in opposition. "If you're going to be the official Opposition leader," she said, "you have to really want to take down the government and really take down the premier. I don't want to take down this premier. I want this premier to succeed."{{cite news |title=Alberta's Wildrose leader and eight members join Prentice government |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/12/17/albertas_wildrose_leader_and_eight_members_join_prentice_government.html |work=The Star |agency=The Canadian Press |date=December 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814052843/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/12/17/albertas_wildrose_leader_and_eight_members_join_prentice_government.html |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |location=Edmonton}} Several weeks after Smith joined the Progressive Conservatives, in a Facebook post, she apologized for the anger caused by her move and for not consulting with Albertans before making the decision. At the same time, she stood by her decision to "unify conservatives" in the province, and indicated that she intended to seek the Progressive Conservative nomination in Highwood for the next election.{{cite news |title=Danielle Smith apologizes for anger caused by defection |last=CBC News |author-link=CBC News |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-apologizes-for-anger-caused-by-defection-1.2930691 |journal=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=January 24, 2015 |access-date=January 24, 2015 |archive-date=January 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125034610/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-apologizes-for-anger-caused-by-defection-1.2930691 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Facebook post to supporters |last=Smith |first=Danielle |url=https://www.facebook.com/DanielleSmithMLAHighwood/posts/10202865458192488 |journal=Facebook |date=January 24, 2015 |access-date=January 24, 2015 |archive-date=January 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128063515/https://www.facebook.com/DanielleSmithMLAHighwood/posts/10202865458192488 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Danielle Smith apologizes for not allowing debate on her floor-crossing |last1=Graveland |first1=Bill |agency=The Canadian Press |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/danielle-smith-apologizes-for-not-allowing-debate-on-her-floor-crossing/article22623681/ |work=The Globe and Mail |date=January 24, 2015 |access-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922120544/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/danielle-smith-apologizes-for-not-allowing-debate-on-her-floor-crossing/article22623681/ |url-status=live }}

Smith was defeated in her bid for the PC nomination in Highwood by Okotoks Councillor Carrie Fischer on March 28, 2015. Smith's defeat was attributed to her floor-crossing which angered many in her riding.{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-loses-pc-nomination-in-highwood-to-carrie-fischer-1.3013567| title = Danielle Smith loses PC nomination in Highwood to Carrie Fischer |work=CBC News |date= March 28, 2015 | access-date = April 30, 2019| archive-date = November 8, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201108135808/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-loses-pc-nomination-in-highwood-to-carrie-fischer-1.3013567| url-status = live}} Fischer then lost to Wildrose candidate Wayne Anderson in the general election.{{Cite news |title=Alberta Election 2015: Wildrose's Wayne Anderson wins Highwood |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/1969113/alberta-election-2015-highwood/ |date=2015-04-29 |work=Global News |accessdate=2022-12-19}}

{{Expand section|date=May 2023}}

In the intervening period, Smith went on to host a talk radio program on CHQR in Calgary.{{cite press release |title=Roger Kingkade sacked, Danielle Smith moves into the coveted morning slot on QR 770 |url=https://www.pugetsoundradio.com/2016/07/04/roger-kingkade-sacked-danielle-smith-moves-coveted-morning-slot-qr-770/ |website=Puget Sound Radio |date=July 4, 2016 |access-date=September 25, 2018 |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923150920/https://www.pugetsoundradio.com/2016/07/04/roger-kingkade-sacked-danielle-smith-moves-coveted-morning-slot-qr-770/ |url-status=live }} On January 11, 2021, she announced that she was leaving her talk show and Twitter, citing attacks from Twitter trolls, effective February 19, 2021.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Danielle |date=18 January 2021 |orig-year=14 January 2021 |title=Danielle Smith: I'm Leaving Twitter and Radio Because I've Had Enough of the Mob |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/danielle-smith-im-leaving-twitter-and-radio-because-ive-had-enough-of-the-mob |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210114233829/https://nationalpost.com/opinion/danielle-smith-im-leaving-twitter-and-radio-because-ive-had-enough-of-the-mob |archive-date=14 January 2021 |url-status=live|department=Opinion |work=National Post |location=Canada |access-date=12 October 2022}}

In July 2021, Smith wrote an opinion article supporting Jason Kenney's referendum on equalization payments, held on October 18, 2021.{{Cite web|title=Alberta Referendum will help Albertans kickstart national conversation about unfair Equalization|author=Danielle Smith|url=https://www.todayville.com/referendum-will-help-albertans-kickstart-national-conversation-about-unfair-equalization-danielle-smith/|website=Todayville Red Deer|date=July 2021|access-date=August 16, 2021|archive-date=August 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816135824/https://www.todayville.com/referendum-will-help-albertans-kickstart-national-conversation-about-unfair-equalization-danielle-smith/|url-status=live}}

In June 2019, Smith registered as a lobbyist for the Alberta Enterprise Group, an association where Smith was also the president.{{Cite web |title=Alberta premier's lobbying record holds clues to her governing agenda, observers say {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9267983/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-lobbyist-past-governing-agenda/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Global News |language=en-US}} At that time Smith lobbied the provincial government on behalf of industry for the RStar program.{{Cite web |title=CityNews |url=https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2023/02/10/opposition-says-alberta-premier-campaign-funding/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=edmonton.citynews.ca|date=February 10, 2023 }}

On May 18, 2022, Smith announced that she was launching a campaign to seek the leadership of the United Conservative Party of Alberta, after the resignation of sitting premier and UCP leader Jason Kenney.{{cite web |title=Former Alberta Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith announces UCP leadership bid – May 19, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYYcyUh8snk |website=YouTube | date=May 19, 2022 |publisher=CPAC |access-date=August 18, 2022 |ref=UCPannounce |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818091213/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYYcyUh8snk |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Tran |first=Paula |date=May 19, 2022 |title=Ex-Wildrose leader Danielle Smith reannounces UCP leadership bid as next step in Alberta politics |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8848696/danielle-smith-reannounces-ucp-leadership-bid/ |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519194645/https://globalnews.ca/news/8848696/danielle-smith-reannounces-ucp-leadership-bid/ |url-status=live }} Smith was perceived to be the frontrunner among party members in the race to replace Kenney according to internal polling released to the Calgary Sun.{{cite web | url=https://calgarysun.com/opinion/columnists/bell-danielle-smith-what-her-latest-poll-numbers-tell-her-and-us |first1=Rick |last1=Bell |date=August 5, 2022 | title=Bell – Danielle Smith, what her latest poll numbers tell her and us |work=calgarysun | access-date=August 18, 2022 | publisher=Calgary Sun | archive-date=August 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808195236/https://calgarysun.com/opinion/columnists/bell-danielle-smith-what-her-latest-poll-numbers-tell-her-and-us | url-status=live }}

Smith's central policy was to enact what she called the Alberta Sovereignty Act if she became premier. The proposal argued for more autonomy for Alberta in Confederation and called on the provincial legislature to make determinations on when to ignore federal legislation infringing upon Alberta's jurisdiction.{{cite web | url=https://edmontonsun.com/opinion/columnists/gunter-danielle-smiths-proposed-sovereignty-act-sucks-all-the-oxygen-from-the-ucp-leadership-room |last1=Gunter |first1=Lorne |date=July 29, 2022 | title=GUNTER – Danielle Smith's proposed sovereignty act sucks all the oxygen from the UCP leadership room |work=edmontonsun | publisher=Calgary Sun | access-date=August 18, 2022 | archive-date=July 29, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729101647/https://edmontonsun.com/opinion/columnists/gunter-danielle-smiths-proposed-sovereignty-act-sucks-all-the-oxygen-from-the-ucp-leadership-room | url-status=live }} Six of Smith's opponents in the leadership race criticized the act.{{Cite news |last=Dawson |first=Tyler |date=September 6, 2022 |title=Alberta Sovereignty Act would impose constitutional order on 'lawless' Ottawa, Danielle Smith says as more details released |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/danielle-smith-releases-detailed-plan-for-alberta-sovereignty-act |access-date=September 7, 2022}} Jason Kenney described it as a "full-frontal attack on the rule of law", as well as a step towards separation and a "banana republic".{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2022 |title=Danielle Smith's proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act would create a 'banana republic': Kenney |url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/danielle-smith-s-proposed-alberta-sovereignty-act-would-create-a-banana-republic-kenney-1.6057646 |access-date=September 7, 2022 |website=CTV News |location=Calgary |last1=Kanygin |first1=Jordan |language=en |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906234149/https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/danielle-smith-s-proposed-alberta-sovereignty-act-would-create-a-banana-republic-kenney-1.6057646 |url-status=live }}

On October 6, Smith won the UCP leadership vote with 53.77% of the vote on the sixth count—the contest was conducted using instant-runoff voting—to become the premier-designate.{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2022 |title=Meet Danielle Smith: UCP leader and Alberta's next premier |url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/meet-danielle-smith-ucp-leader-and-alberta-s-next-premier-1.6100028 |access-date=October 7, 2022 |website=CTV News |location=Calgary |last1=White |first1=Ryan |language=en |archive-date=October 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007031123/https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/meet-danielle-smith-ucp-leader-and-alberta-s-next-premier-1.6100028 |url-status=live }} She was sworn in as the 19th premier and minister of Intergovernmental Relations on October 11.{{Cite web |title=Danielle Smith sworn in as Alberta's 19th premier |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/smith-sworn-in-as-alberta-premier |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=edmontonjournal |language=en-CA}} Preceded by Herbert Greenfield, William Aberhart and Jim Prentice in this regard, she was just the last in a series of persons who have ascended to the premier's position without holding a seat in the legislature.

Smith's campaign ran a deficit of $26,792 after spending $1,389,829 on her successful campaign.{{cite web |last1=French |first1=Janet |title=Premier Danielle Smith raised nearly $1.4 million for UCP leadership campaign |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/premier-danielle-smith-raised-nearly-1-4-million-for-ucp-leadership-campaign-1.6743604 |website=CBC News |publisher=CBC |access-date=10 February 2023 |ref=deficit_campaign}}

{{main|Premiership of Danielle Smith}}

After being sworn in as premier, Smith said that she would not impose any further measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta.{{cite news |last1=Leavitt |first1=Kieran |date=11 October 2022 |title=On first day in office, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith calls unvaxxed people the 'most discriminated against group that I've ever witnessed in my lifetime |work=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/10/11/on-first-day-in-office-alberta-premier-danielle-smith-calls-unvaxxed-people-the-most-discriminated-against-group-shes-ever-seen.html |access-date=12 October 2022}}{{Cite web |first1=Michael |last1=Franklin |date=2022-10-11 |title=Unvaccinated are 'the most discriminated group,' Alberta premier says |url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/unvaccinated-are-the-most-discriminated-group-alberta-premier-says-1.6105138 |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=CTV News |location=Calgary |language=en}} She also said that people who are unvaccinated should be protected under the Alberta Human Rights Act; alluding to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, she said that they have been "the most discriminated against group that I've ever witnessed in my lifetime",{{cite news |last1=Leavitt |first1=Kieran |date=11 October 2022 |title=On first day in office, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith calls unvaxxed people the 'most discriminated against group that I've ever witnessed in my lifetime |work=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/10/11/on-first-day-in-office-alberta-premier-danielle-smith-calls-unvaxxed-people-the-most-discriminated-against-group-shes-ever-seen.html |access-date=12 October 2022 |quote=“They have been the most discriminated against group that I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime,” Smith said Tuesday during her first media availability as premier of Alberta.}}{{cite news |last1=French |first1=Janet |date=11 October 2022 |title=New Alberta premier says unvaccinated 'most discriminated against group' after swearing-in |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/new-alberta-premier-says-unvaccinated-most-discriminated-against-group-after-swearing-in-1.6612767 |access-date=12 October 2022 |quote="They have been the most discriminated against group that I've ever witnessed in my lifetime," Smith said of unvaccinated Canadians at the press conference.}}{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Rebekah |date=2022-11-16 |title=Covid misinformation ignites a battle over blood in a Canadian province |url=https://www.codastory.com/waronscience/covid-misinformation-ignites-a-battle-over-blood-in-a-canadian-province/ |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=Coda Media |language=en-US}} had "faced the most restrictions on their freedoms in the last year", and that "we are not going to create a segregated society on the basis of a medical choice". The remarks faced criticism for alleged trivialization of discrimination faced by minority groups, for which Smith did not apologize.{{cite web |last1=Taniguchi |first1=Kellen |date=October 13, 2022 |title=No apology from Danielle Smith over comments on discrimination of unvaccinated people |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/new-alberta-premier-laments-discrimination-against-unvaccinated/wcm/c284fc9d-e8dc-4ead-a3a0-e26b0d0720a3 |website=Calgary Herald |access-date=26 October 2022 |ref=no_apology_unvaccinated}}

On October 24, Smith pulled Alberta from the World Economic Forum Global Coalition for Value in Healthcare, saying that she would not "work with a group that talks about controlling governments." "I find it distasteful when billionaires brag about how much control they have over political leaders," she said.{{Cite web |first1=Paula |last1=Tran |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Alberta Premier Danielle Smith cancelling health consulting agreement with WEF |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9222866/alberta-premier-cancelling-wef-health-consulting-agreement/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Premier Danielle Smith to end agreement with World Economic Forum |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/premier-danielle-smith-to-end-agreement-with-world-economic-forum-1.6121969 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=CTV News |location=Edmonton |first1=Dean |last1=Bennett |agency=The Canadian Press |language=en}}{{cite web |url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ucp-world-economic-forum-smith-edmonton-calgary-1.6628294 |title= Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she distrusts World Economic Forum, province to cut ties |website=CBC News |date=October 24, 2022 |access-date=November 7, 2022}}

As Smith was not a member of the Legislative Assembly when she became premier, she ran in a by-election for the southern Alberta seat of Brooks-Medicine Hat on November 8, 2022.{{Cite news |last=Herring |first=Jason |date=2022-11-09 |title=Premier Danielle Smith wins byelection that gives her seat in Alberta legislature |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/voters-cast-ballots-in-brooks-medicine-hat-byelection |access-date=2022-11-09}} The incumbent, fellow UCP MLA Michaela Frey, resigned soon after Smith was elected leader and premier, and had encouraged Smith to run.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-byelection-michaela-frey-1.6611150|title= Danielle Smith will run in Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection|author1=Sarah Moore|publisher=CBC News|date=8 October 2022}} Longstanding convention in Westminster systems when the leader of the governing party is not a member of the legislature to either hold a general election or a by-election, often caused by a sitting member in a safe seat resigning in order to allow the newly elected leader a chance to enter the legislature. Smith had previously announced plans to seek the UCP nomination in Livingstone-Macleod, before she was elected party leader. She won the by-election, with 54.5% of the vote.{{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Dean |title=Danielle Smith captures victory in Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-byelection-brooks-medicine-hat-alberta-1.6643590 |work=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2022-11-08}}

In late-November 2022, Smith withdrew her plan to introduce a bill that would add unvaccinated individuals as a protected class under the Alberta Human Rights Act; Smith continued to promote an intent for herself and her ministers to contact businesses and organizations that were still "discriminating" via COVID-19 vaccine mandates and ask them to "reconsider their vaccination policy in the light of new evidence". She stated that "most employers have made the responsible decision to not discriminate against their workers", and for people to inform their MLAs "If there is still discrimination".{{Cite web |last=Leavitt |first=Kieran |date=2022-11-28 |title=Alberta's Danielle Smith and her ministers are personally calling event organizers, businesses to urge them to reconsider vaccine mandates |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/11/28/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-personally-urging-event-organizers-businesses-to-reconsider-vaccine-mandates.html |access-date=2022-11-30 |newspaper=Toronto Star |language=en}}{{Cite web |first=Michael |last=Franklin |date=2022-11-28 |title=Critics say Smith is bullying businesses over COVID-19 policies |url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/critics-say-smith-is-bullying-businesses-over-covid-19-policies-1.6172209 |access-date=2022-11-30 |work=CTV News |language=en}}{{Cite web |first=Dean |last=Bennett |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2022-11-28 |title=Smith's bill to protect Alberta's unvaccinated won't be introduced in legislature |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9309856/danielle-smith-bill-protect-unvaccinated/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Global News |language=en}} In December 2022 the legislature passed the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act.{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Dean |date=Dec 8, 2022 |title=Alberta passes Sovereignty Act, but first strips out sweeping powers for cabinet |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-sovereignty-act-1.6678407 }}

In May 2023 as wildfires swept the province and a state of emergency because of wildfires was declared by the province,{{cite news |url=https://www.fortmacleodgazette.com/2024/lessons-from-2023-inform-albertas-approach-to-wildfires |title=Lessons from 2023 inform Alberta's approach to wildfires }} Smith was asked about the UCP government's cuts to the firefighting budget. Between 10 and 20 per cent of the watchtowers by the 2019 budget, and the Aerial Rapattack fire service team was terminated. The firefighting budget was slashed from $130 million in 2018-19 to $100 million in 2023-24 and the contingency fund for “wildfire fighting” was treated as a political football.{{cite news |url=https://pressprogress.ca/albertas-ucp-government-has-cut-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-from-wildfire-preparedness-programs/ |title=Alberta's UCP Government Has Cut Tens of Millions of Dollars from Wildfire Preparedness Programs |date=May 11, 2023 }}{{cite news |url=https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-wildfire-ucp-cuts/ |title='A skeleton crew': UCP cuts led to Alberta wildfire disaster |date=May 10, 2023 }}

The Alberta ethics commissioner started investigating Smith in April 2023 for her alleged interference with the administration of justice.{{cite web |last1=Dryden |first1=Joel |title=Alberta's ethics commissioner investigating whether premier interfered with administration of justice |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-danielle-smith-irfan-sabir-ndp-1.6806047 |website=CBC |publisher=CBC News |access-date=12 April 2023}} Smith had previously promised pardons for those guilty of COVID-19 violations and indicated she was in regular contact with Crown prosecutors.{{cite web |last1=Bennett |first1=Dean |title=Alberta premier reverses course on promise to seek pardons for COVID-19 health violators |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/alberta-premier-reverses-course-on-promise-to-seek-pardons-for-covid-19-health-violators-1.6228492 |website=CTV News |date=January 12, 2023 |publisher=CTV |access-date=12 April 2023}} In May 2023 the ethics commissioner found that Smith had contravened the Conflict of Interest Act by discussing criminal charges against Calgary pastor Artur Pawlowski with the justice minister Tyler Shandro and with Pawlowski himself.{{cite web |last1=Canadian Press |first1=The |title=Alberta Premier Danielle Smith violated conflict of interest rule: ethics probe |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/danielle-smith-conflict-of-interest-artur-pawlowski |website=Calgary Herald |access-date=31 October 2023}}

In the May 2023 Alberta general election, Smith led the UCP to a second consecutive majority government, albeit with a reduced majority, defeating the New Democratic Party led by Rachel Notley.{{cite web | last1=Williams | first1=Nia | last2=Bracken | first2=Amber | last3=Shakil | first3=Ismail | title=Alberta premier Smith takes aim at Trudeau after winning provincial election | website=Reuters | date=May 30, 2023 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/alberta-heads-polls-with-canadas-green-agenda-balance-2023-05-29/ | access-date=September 6, 2023}}{{cite web | last1=Austen | first1=Ian | title=Alberta Election Sees Conservatives Keep Power After Hard-Right Turn | website=The New York Times | date=May 30, 2023 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/30/world/americas/alberta-canada-conservative-election.html | access-date=September 6, 2023}} The election campaign was close and one of the fiercest in Alberta's history.{{cite web | last=Taylor-Vaisey | first=Nick | title=In Alberta, a bruising campaign invites political chaos | website=POLITICO | date=May 28, 2023 | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/28/alberta-premier-smith-notley-00099090 | access-date=September 6, 2023}} Smith was re-elected in her riding.{{Cite web |title=CityNews |url=https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2023/05/29/danielle-smith-alberta-election-brooks-medicine-hat/ |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=edmonton.citynews.ca|date=May 30, 2023 }} Although the UCP's share of the vote only declined slightly (from 55% to 53%), the opposition vote coalesced behind the NDP, which resulted in a loss of eleven seats for the UCP. Notably, the UCP came in second place in Calgary, which had been a power base for the centre-right in Alberta for years, and failed to win any seats in Edmonton. However, the UCP won all but four seats outside Edmonton and Calgary. Smith thus became the third woman to lead a party to a win in an Alberta general election, after Redford and Notley.

On August 3, 2023, the Smith government announced that it was pausing all approvals in the province renewable energy industry for six months.{{Cite news |title=Alberta announces pause on renewable energy, citing rural concerns |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/alberta-announces-pause-on-renewable-energy-citing-rural-concerns/wcm/55aa6c87-a13d-44f5-b697-fa38e6cf5eae |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240223232329/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/alberta-announces-pause-on-renewable-energy-citing-rural-concerns/wcm/55aa6c87-a13d-44f5-b697-fa38e6cf5eae |archive-date=2024-02-23 |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=edmontonjournal |language=en-CA}}{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Stephen |date=2025-05-05 |title=‘I’m encouraged’: Alberta premier to deliver Monday status update about provincial relationship with Ottawa |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/im-encouraged-alberta-premier-to-deliver-monday-status-update-about-provincial-relationship-with-ottawa/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} On February 28th, 2024, Smith announced further restrictions on renewable energy development.{{Cite news |title=Alberta brings in new restrictions on renewable power projects as moratorium set to end Thursday |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/alberta-ucp-danielle-smith-renewable-energy-restrictions |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240320135340/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/alberta-ucp-danielle-smith-renewable-energy-restrictions |archive-date=2024-03-20 |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=edmontonjournal |language=en-CA}} It was later revealed by the Narwal that Mike Law, the CEO of the independent Alberta Electric System Operator, was opposed to the moratorium because it would send a "closed-for-business message" and send investments into a "tailspin." Smith has also made claims that Alberta Utilities Commission and Rural Municipalities of Alberta both supported her decision to pause development. However, both organizations have denied it. {{Cite web |last=Fletcher |first=Robson |date=May 9, 2024 |title=The unravelling of Danielle Smith's case for Alberta's renewables pause |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-renewables-pause-moratorium-aeso-foip-1.7196943 |website=CBC News}}

In November 2024, Smith won a mandatory leadership review by UCP members attending convention with 91.5% of the vote, and only 4633 ballots cast{{snd}} compared to the 2022 leadership race where she won with a much more narrow margin of 53%, and over 80,000 ballots were cast.{{Cite news |last=Bellefontaine |first=Michelle |date=November 2, 2024 |title=Alberta premier wins leadership review with 91.5 per cent approval |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-danielle-smith-ucp-convention-leadership-review-1.7372033 |access-date=November 2, 2024 |work=CBC News}}{{Cite news |date=2022 |title=Alberta UCP live results: Danielle Smith is elected leader of the United Conservative Party |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/watch-live-alberta-united-conservative-party-leadership-results |work=Edmonton Journal}}

Amid US President Donald Trump's discussions of potential tariffs on Canada and remarks about the possibility of annexing Canada, Smith was the only premier that refused to sign a joint statement by all other Canadian premiers to co-ordinate a response in case Trump acted on his threats.{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=Take It from an Expert. Danielle Smith Is Helping Trump |url=https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2025/01/24/Take-It-Expert-Danielle-Smith-Helping-Trump/ |website=The Tyee}} Amid the threats, she visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort.{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Brendan |date=2025-01-14 |title=Alberta Premier Danielle Smith meets with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-meets-with-donald-trump-at-mar-a-lago/article_11216d40-d11c-11ef-a983-77e4733c23d5.html |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Melgar |first=Alejandro |date=2025-01-12 |title=Alberta Premier Danielle Smith visits Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate |url=https://calgary.citynews.ca/2025/01/12/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-visits-donald-trump/ |website=CityNews Calgary |language=en}} She was scheduled to attend Trump's inauguration, but was unable to because the event was moved into a small indoor venue due to bad weather conditions.{{Cite news |date=2025 |title=Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will not attend Trump inauguration in-person as event moves indoors |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-premier-smith-trump-inauguration-1.7435612 |work=CBC}} On March 20th 2025, it was revealed that Smith did an interview with Breitbart two weeks before in which she said that she pressed the Trump administration to pausing the implementation of tariffs as a way for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre to be elected as Prime Minister.{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Stephen |date=2025-03-23 |title='Let's just put things on pause': Alberta premier under fire for Breitbart interview |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/lets-just-put-things-on-pause-alberta-premier-under-fire-for-breitbart-interview/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-03-30 |title=Danielle Smith: The Canadian Conservative trying to sweet talk Trump |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jgx10z8qqo |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} Smith said that her reasoning was because the implementation of the tariffs would benefit the Liberal Party of Canada polling numbers and that Poilievre would be more inline with the Trump administration. {{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Stuart |title=How a two-week old interview by Danielle Smith drove day one of the election campaign |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/interview-danielle-smith-drove-day-one-election-campaign |website=National Post}}

In May 2025, following the 2025 Canadian federal election, Smith announced that her government would hold a referendum on Alberta's separation from Canada if citizens gathered enough signatures to prompt a referendum.{{Cite web |title=Danielle Smith promises Alberta separation referendum if signatures warrant {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/11165096/alberta-danielle-smith-address-may-5-2025/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |title=Smith defends timing of Alberta referendum speech as Carney calls for Canadian unity |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/smith-alberta-referendum-speech-carney-canadian-unity |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250507004353/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/smith-alberta-referendum-speech-carney-canadian-unity |archive-date=2025-05-07 |access-date=2025-05-14 |work=edmontonjournal |language=en}}

Smith has been described as "libertarian on moral issues" by The Globe and Mail in 2012, a "populist Conservative" by Politico in 2023,{{cite web|date=28 May 2023|title=In Alberta, a bruising campaign invites political chaos|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/28/alberta-premier-smith-notley-00099090|author-last=Taylor-Vaisey|author-first=Nick|access-date=15 May 2023|work=Politico}} and as "far-right" by The New York Times in 2023.{{cite web|date=29 May 2023|title=Alberta's Vote Will Test American-Style Far-Right Politics|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/29/world/canada/alberta-election-canada.html|author-last=Austen|author-first=Ian|access-date=15 May 2023|work=The New York Times}} In a 2023 interview with the Calgary Sun, she self-identified as a "caring conservative".{{cite web|date=26 May 2023|title=Bell: INTERVIEW. Danielle Smith insists she's a caring conservative|url=https://calgarysun.com/opinion/columnists/bell-interview-danielle-smith-caring-conservative|author-last=Bell|author-first=Rick|access-date=15 May 2023|work=Calgary Sun}} Smith has been described as media-savvy and adept at presenting a professional and polished image.{{cite web |last=Den Tandt |first=Michael |date=April 16, 2012 |title=Danielle Smith and Wildrose ride the wave |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-province/20120416/281668251964114 |publisher=PostMedia News |via=PressReader |newspaper=The Province}}

Smith shared a mentor, political scientist Tom Flanagan, with former Reform Party leader Preston Manning and former prime minister Stephen Harper. She has an affinity towards Manning's movement and Harper's government. Smith distanced herself and the Wildrose Party from Flanagan in February 2013, after he made controversial remarks over child pornography.{{cite web|title=Wildrose dumps campaign manager Tom Flanagan over child pornography comments |last=Woods |first=James |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/Wildrose+dumps+campaign+manager+Flanagan+over+child/8029677/story.html|newspaper=Calgary Herald|access-date=May 28, 2013|date=March 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303004626/http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/politics/Wildrose+dumps+campaign+manager+Flanagan+over+child/8029677/story.html|archive-date=March 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite press release |title=Wildrose Leader Smith condemns Flanagan's child porn remarks|url=http://www.wildrose.ca/feature/wildrose-leader-smith-condemns-flanagans-child-porn-remarks/|publisher=Wildrose Party|access-date=May 28, 2013|date=February 28, 2013|archive-date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530164247/http://www.wildrose.ca/feature/wildrose-leader-smith-condemns-flanagans-child-porn-remarks/|url-status=dead}} She is also an admirer of Ayn Rand, John Locke and Margaret Thatcher.

During the 2012 election, Smith revealed that she is pro-choice and supports same-sex marriage.{{Cite news |last=Graveland |first=Bill |date=2012-04-10 |title=Wildrose Leader says she is pro-choice and supports gay rights |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/wildrose-leader-says-she-is-pro-choice-and-supports-gay-rights/article4099951/ |access-date=2022-11-19}} While she was a columnist with the Calgary Herald, she argued in favour of legalising sex work. During her UCP leadership campaign in 2022, Smith proposed checking transgender athletes' testosterone levels before competing against cisgender women and a separate category for women with high testosterone levels.{{Cite news |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=September 5, 2022 |title=Pride YMM calls Brian Jean's comments on transgender athletes in women's sports 'transphobic' |work=Fort McMurray Today |url=https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/pride-ymm-calls-brian-jeans-comments-on-transgender-athletes-in-womens-sports-transphobic }} While she was leader of the Wildrose Party, Smith supported conscience rights legislation for health care workers{{Cite news |date=April 9, 2012 |title=Wildrose Party's idea of "conscience rights" is discriminatory |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/wildrose-partys-idea-of-conscience-rights-is-discriminatory/article4099284/ }} and opposed publicly funding gender-affirming surgeries.{{Cite news |title=Sex-change surgery funding gets mixed reaction in Alberta |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/sex-change-surgery-funding-gets-mixed-reaction-in-alberta-1.1206789 }}

In February 2024, Smith announced a ban of gender-affirming healthcare for those 17 and under (including a ban on puberty blockers for those 15 and under), the requirement of parental consent for students aged 15 and under to be referred to by a different name or different gender pronouns, the requirement of parents to give their consent before having their children taught human sexuality, and that third-party resources on sexuality be approved by the Education Ministry.{{Cite news |last=Derworiz, Bennett |first=Colette, Dean |date=February 1, 2024 |title='Preserving kids' choices': Alberta premier says transgender rules coming in fall |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/preserving-kids-choices-alberta-premier-says-transgender-rules-coming-in-fall-1.6752717 |access-date=February 10, 2024 |work=CP24}}{{Cite news |last=Strasser |first=Scott |date=February 1, 2024 |title='We will not stand for it': LGBTQ+ advocates criticize Danielle Smith's policy announcement |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/lgbtq-advocates-criticize-danielle-smith-parental-rights-policy |access-date=February 15, 2024 |work=Calgary Herald}}

Smith announced a ban of trans women competing in women's sports in Alberta.{{Cite news |last=Heidenreich |first=Phil |date=February 2, 2024 |title=Alberta policy on trans athletes spurs discussion among people with stake in competitive sports |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10270168/transgender-athletes-competition-alberta-policy/ |access-date=February 12, 2024 |work=Global News}} The ban would not include a ban on women's shelters, women's prisons or women's changing rooms.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-transgender-same-sex-spaces-ottawa-csfn24-1.7171810|title=Danielle Smith says Alberta's proposed transgender rules won't include public change rooms, jails|author= Lily Dupuis |date=12 April 2024|work=www.cbc.ca|access-date=3 October 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/smith-says-alberta-gender-law-wont-bar-trans-women-from-female-spaces|title=Smith says Alberta gender law won't bar trans women from female spaces|author= Catherine Lévesque |date=12 April 2024|work=nationalpost|access-date=3 October 2024}}

After she became premier, it was revealed that she made comments on April 29 during a Locals.com livestream about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Smith argued for a peace plan between Russia and Ukraine and advocated for Ukraine's neutrality. She also made subsequently deleted posts in March that questioned whether breakaway regions in Ukraine should be able to govern independently, and whether NATO played a role in the invasion, citing a conspiracy theory promoted by Tucker Carlson alleging 'secret U.S. funded biolabs' in Ukraine.{{Cite web |last=Short |first=Dylan |date=October 15, 2022 |title=Danielle Smith under fire for past online comments on Ukraine invasion |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/online-posts-show-premier-danielle-smith-questioned-who-was-at-fault-in-russia-ukraine-conflict |access-date=2022-10-17 |language=en-CA |newspaper=Calgary Herald}} On October 16, she said that she "stands with the Ukrainian people" and advocated for diplomacy to "spare millions of Ukrainian lives."{{Cite web |last=Di Donato |first=Nicole |date=2022-10-16 |title=Alberta premier under fire for 'misinformed' comments on Russia's invasion of Ukraine |url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/alberta-premier-under-fire-for-misinformed-comments-on-russia-s-invasion-of-ukraine-1.6111830 |access-date=2022-10-17 |work=CTV News |language=en |location=Calgary}} Smith also made posts on Locals.com critical of COVID-19 vaccines and questioned the legitimacy of reports that unmarked graves had been found at residential schools.{{Cite web |last=Herring |first=Jason |date=October 16, 2022 |title=Facing heat on Ukraine, Smith decries 'politicization' of conflict |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/facing-heat-on-ukraine-smith-decries-ndp-politicization |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=Calgary Herald |language=en-CA}}

Smith has been criticized for making false claims about a cure for COVID-19, E. coli and statements that critics said blamed stage 4 cancer patients for their diagnosis.{{cite web |date=October 22, 2012 |title=Wildrose leader apologizes for XL beef tweet |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/wildrose-leader-apologizes-for-xl-beef-tweet-1.1205808 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711133338/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/wildrose-leader-apologizes-for-xl-beef-tweet-1.1205808 |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |publisher=CBC News |ref=21}}{{cite web |last=Rieger |first=Sarah |date=March 22, 2020 |title=Alberta talk radio host deletes tweet with false claim that there's a 100% cure for coronavirus |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/coronavirus-cure-claim-1.5506187 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323152441/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/coronavirus-cure-claim-1.5506187 |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |access-date=March 23, 2020 |publisher=CBC News}}{{cite web |last=Bennett |first=Dean |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Danielle Smith faces criticism of sovereignty plan, cancer remarks in UCP leadership debate |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ucp-leadership-debate-medicine-hat-1.6533507 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818091213/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ucp-leadership-debate-medicine-hat-1.6533507 |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=August 18, 2022 |publisher=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press}} She has since apologised for making statements on E. coli and said that her statements on cancer were meant to express that preventative health measures are an important means to help combat cancer.

In a social media interview on November 10, 2021, Smith said that she was not wearing a Remembrance Day poppy because politicians and public health officials had "ruined it for her" by taking away Canadians' freedoms through public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, and that citizens that had gone along with public health measures and been vaccinated had fallen for the "charms of a tyrant" in the same way that Germans had fallen for Adolf Hitler.{{cite news |last1=Dryden |first1=Joel |date=May 8, 2023 |title=In resurfaced video, Danielle Smith said the vaccinated fell for 'charms of a tyrant' referencing Adolf Hitler |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-adolf-hitler-netflix-rachel-notley-1.6836160 |access-date=28 May 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Dean |date=May 8, 2023 |title=Danielle Smith apologizes for comments linking COVID vaccinated to Nazi followers |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9683595/danielle-smith-covid-vaccine-nazi-comments/ |access-date=28 May 2023}} She elaborated, "That's the test here, is we've seen it. We have 75 per cent of the public who say not only hit me, but hit me harder, and keep me away from those dirty unvaxxed." When the interview resurfaced in 2023, Smith apologized, writing "As everyone knows, I was against the use of vaccine mandates during COVID. ... However, the horrors of the Holocaust are without precedent, and no one should make any modern-day comparisons that minimize the experience of the Holocaust and suffering under Hitler, nor the sacrifice of our veterans."

During her campaign for the UCP leadership, Smith conducted an interview with a naturopathic physician during which they discussed lifestyle for the prevention of cancer and how Smith's health savings account proposal could help with that. She said "When you think about everything that built up before you got to stage 4 [of cancer] and that diagnosis — that's completely within your control and there's something you can do about that that is different." NDP leader Rachel Notley and Smith's fellow candidates including Brian Jean criticized this comment, with Jean (who lost a son to cancer) saying "You [Smith] saying to someone that their cancer is 'completely within your control' before stage four is insensitive, hurtful, and outright untrue. Please stop."

On May 17, 2023, an investigation by Marguerite Trussler, the Alberta Ethics Commissioner, found that Danielle Smith had violated section 3 of the Conflicts of Interest Act{{Cite web |last=Alberta |first=Government of |date=2012-09-17 |title=Alberta King's Printer: |url=https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=c23.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbncln=9780779842872 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=kings-printer.alberta.ca |language=en}} by talking to the Alberta Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Alberta about charges in an ongoing criminal case against far-right street preacher and COVID-19 protestor Artur Pawlowski.{{Cite web |last=Trussler |first=Hon. Marguerite |date=May 17, 2023 |title=Report of Findings and Recommendations by Hon. Marguerite Trussler, K.C., Ethics Commissioner into allegations involving Hon. Danielle Smith, Member for Brooks-Medicine Hat, Premier of Alberta |url=https://www.ethicscommissioner.ab.ca/media/3124/allegations-involving-premier-danielle-smith-may-17-2023.pdf |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=Alberta Ethics Commissioner}}{{Cite news |last=Canadian Press |first=The |date=May 18, 2023 |title=Danielle Smith violated conflict of interest rule: ethics commissioner |work=The National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/danielle-smith-violated-conflict-of-interest-rule-ethics-commissioner |access-date=December 18, 2023}}

A news-leak on December 18, 2023, revealed allegations of an ongoing ethics probe into re-structuring at Alberta Health Services, including the rapid hiring and firing of Deena Hinshaw for a position on their Indigenous Wellness Core team just days prior to starting. One physician at Alberta Health Services resigned in protest, claiming 'political interference from Danielle Smith's office', and a letter signed by over 200 physicians called for an investigation into the matter.{{Cite news |date=2023-12-18 |title=Alberta Health Services exec says he resigned over political interference from Danielle Smith's office |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-alberta-health-services-exec-says-he-resigned-over-political/ |access-date=2023-12-18}}

At the 28 September 2024 UCP Town Hall in Edmonton, Smith responded to a concern that the municipality was being sprayed by so-called chemtrails{{Cite web|first=Wayne|last=Nelson| title = Your Province. Your Premier.| work = Global News|date=2024-09-28| access-date = 2024-10-07| url = https://globalnews.ca/edmonton/program/your-province-your-premier}}{{emdash}}a "long-held conspiracy theory" that airplane condensation vapours are purposeful nefarious acts.{{Cite web| title = Danielle Smith faces criticism over chemtrail comments at townhall| work = CityNews Calgary| access-date = 2024-10-07| date = 2024-10-01| url = https://calgary.citynews.ca/2024/10/01/danielle-smith-chemtrails-alberta/}}{{Cite news| last = Wherry| first = Aaron| title = Nav Canada has no record of chemtrails conversation with Alberta government| work = The Globe and Mail| access-date = 2024-10-07| date = 2024-10-02| url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-nav-canada-has-no-record-of-chemtrails-conversation-with-alberta/}} Smith said, "Another person told me, if anyone is doing it, it's the U.S. Department of Defense."{{Cite Twitter|user = disorderedyyc | title = Asked about chemtrails, Premier Smith suggests that "the US Department of Defense is spraying us". "If anyone is doing it, it's the US Department of Defense" Smith is pandering to the conspiracy theorists. #ableg #abpoli https://t.co/oZ3Ka79KjG| work = Twitter| format = Tweet|number=1840815700916781283| access-date = 2024-10-07| date = 2024-09-30| url = https://x.com/disorderedyyc/status/1840815700916781283}}{{Cite news| last = Lebrun| first = Luc| title = The Pentagon and NORAD Respond to Danielle Smith: Nope, We're Not Spraying Chemicals Over Alberta| work = PressProgress| access-date = 2024-10-07| date = 2024-10-01| url = https://pressprogress.ca/the-pentagon-and-norad-respond-to-danielle-smith-nope-were-not-spraying-chemicals-over-alberta/}} While Smith said she had inquired about airspace regulations over the weekend, Nav Canada said they had received no queries from the provincial government. According to an Associated Press article, a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) said there are no NORAD flights involving the spraying of chemicals in Canada. Timothy Caulfield said that in this "age of misinformation", conspiracy theories are detrimental to democracies globally. When a political leader does not identify a conspiracy theory as such and correctly answering that it is not true, it is "horrifying". He added that Smith's comments contribute to the "normalization of conspiracy theories" such as "lizard aliens and a flat earth".{{Cite news| last = Rhode| first = Mackenzie| title = Why Danielle Smith, Scott Moe and other politicians get caught up in chemtrails conspiracy| work = Calgary Herald| access-date = 2024-10-07| date = 2024-10-03| url = https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/danielle-smith-scott-moe-chemtrails|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002221956/https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/danielle-smith-scott-moe-chemtrails |archive-date=2024-10-02}}

In February 2025, The Globe and Mail obtained a letter from lawyers of Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former head of Alberta Health Services, that the Smith government dismissed her two days before she was scheduled to meet with the province's auditor-general to discuss her investigation into inflated procurement contracts and contracting processes.{{Cite news |title=RCMP launches investigation into complaint regarding AHS procurement |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/rcmp-launches-investigation-into-complaint-regarding-ahs-procurement |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250407094109/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/rcmp-launches-investigation-into-complaint-regarding-ahs-procurement |archive-date=2025-04-07 |access-date=2025-05-01 |work=edmontonjournal |language=en}} Mentzelopoulos also alleged that the premier's then-chief of staff, Marshall Smith, interfered in AHS contract negotiations.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-05 |title=Alberta ousted health services CEO amid probe into medical contracts, document alleges |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-alberta-ousted-health-services-ceo-amid-probe-into-medical-contracts/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}} Mentzelopoulos was investigating AHS's relationship and contracts with MHCare, a company owned by Sam Mraiche, who imported children's medicine from Turkey, and Alberta Surgical Group (ASG), a private surgical outlet. Doug Wylie, the auditor-general, said that he is examining procurement and contracting processes within AHS.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-08 |title=Danielle Smith calls for expedited review of 'troubling allegations' at Alberta's health authority |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-danielle-smith-calls-for-expedited-review-of-troubling-allegations-at/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}} Smith later called the allegations troubling but denied them. In March 2025, the RCMP launched an investigation after a complaint was raised. In April, former Infrastructure minister Peter Guthrie, who was dismissed from caucus two weeks ago over his criticism of the government’s lack of transparency surrounding this allegations, sent to the auditor-general meeting notes that he kept as evidence that Smith and Health minister Adriana LaGrange misled cabinet.{{Cite web |title=Former Alberta minister Peter Guthrie tables cabinet notes, calls for transparency {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/11158111/former-legislature-peter-guthrie-cabinet-notes/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}

Smith has made claims about her ancestry that have been debunked by genealogists and Canadian immigration records.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} Her paternal great-grandfather was Philipus Kolodnicki, whose name was anglicized to "Philip Smith" upon arriving in Canada. In October 2022, she claimed Kolodnicki left Ukraine after the First World War, which ended in 1918, to escape communism. She said her political beliefs were "largely born out of a complete distrust of the socialism from which my great-grandfather fled." In a 2012 profile in The Globe and Mail, Smith claimed Kolodnicki was a Ukrainian immigrant who arrived in Canada in 1915.

Immigration records reviewed by the Toronto Star showed Kolodnicki arrived in Canada in 1913, before either the First World War or the 1917 October Revolution. Kolodnicki also listed his nation of origin as Austria and his race as Ruthenian, a term that at the time referred to the ancestors of modern Ukrainians, Belarusians and Rusyns.{{Cite web |last=Noakes |first=Taylor C. |date=2022-11-19 |title=Analysis {{!}} Her Indigenous heritage questioned, was Danielle Smith also wrong about her Ukrainian great-grandfather's journey |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/11/19/her-indigenous-heritage-questioned-was-danielle-smith-also-wrong-about-her-ukrainian-great-grandfathers-journey.html |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=The Toronto Star |language=en}}

Beginning in 2012, Smith publicly claimed she had Cherokee roots through her great-great-grandmother, Mary Frances Crowe. Smith also claimed Crowe was a victim of the Trail of Tears and forcibly relocated to Kansas in the 1830s.{{cite web |last=Paradis |first=Danielle |title=Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she has Cherokee roots, but the records don't back that up |url=https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-says-she-has-cherokee-roots-but-the-records-dont-back-that-up/ |access-date=16 November 2022 |website=www.aptnnews.ca |date=November 16, 2022 |publisher=APTN}} An investigation from APTN National News looked over U.S. census records and found Crowe was born in 1870 in Georgia, about 20 years after the U.S. government forced the Cherokee out of their homelands. Kathy Griffin, a Cherokee genealogist in Texas who worked with APTN, could not find proof that any of Smith's ancestors were members of the historical Cherokee tribes, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma, or the Cherokee Nation. Smith's ancestors also did not appear on the Dawes Roll, a U.S. registry cataloguing members of the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole.

Following APTN's story, Smith's press secretary said Smith had not done a "deep dive into her ancestry" and "heard about her heritage from her loved ones".{{Cite news |last=Dawson |first=Tyler |date=2022-11-18 |title=Alberta premier says she didn't do 'deep dive' into ancestry after Cherokee claims questioned |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-cherokee |access-date=2022-11-19}}

{{2023 Alberta general election/Brooks-Medicine Hat}}

{{Canadian election result/top|AB|8 November 2022|Brooks-Medicine Hat|Brooks-Medicine Hat|by=yes|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|UCP|Danielle Smith|6,919|54.51|-6.15}}

{{CANelec|AB|NDP|Gwendoline Dirk|3,394|26.74|+8.85}}

{{CANelec|AB|Alberta Party|Barry Morishita|2,098|16.53|+9.60}}

{{CANelec|AB|Alberta Independence|Bob Blayone|225|1.77|+0.80}}

{{CANelec|AB|Wildrose Independence|Jeevan Mangat|56|0.44|}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|12,692|}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|45||}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|12,695|35.51|-30.27}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|35,872}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|UCP|-7.48}}

{{CANelec/source|Elections Alberta{{cite web |title=By-Election November 8, 2022 - 52 - Brooks-Medicine Hat |url=https://officialresults.elections.ab.ca/orResultsED.cfm?ED=52&EventId=95 |website=officialresults.elections.ab.ca |publisher=Elections Alberta |access-date=24 November 2022}}}}

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