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Leader of the Alberta NDP Naheed Nenshi speaks as First Nations chiefs, band councillors and elders gather to call on Premier Danielle Smith’s government to stomp out the push for the province to leave Canada, at the Alberta legislature in Edmonton in March.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
Alberta’s Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says Premier Danielle Smith should fire her office’s executive director for posting a social media diatribe criticizing First Nations chiefs.
The senior aide, Bruce McAllister, said in his Thursday post that First Nations chiefs should fix their own communities instead of accusing the premier of treason over her fall separation referendum
He describes First Nations as entrenched in poverty, drugs and violence.
Nenshi, speaking in Calgary on Friday, said McAllister’s commentary echoes bullying behaviour from Smith and a pattern of disrespect from her United Conservatives.
Nenshi said when challenged, Smith lashes out at her opponents.
He said if the premier wants to send a message that she respects Albertans, she should start by firing McAllister.
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“These are dog whistles,” says Nenshi. He described McAllister as Smith’s “number two guy,” with a history of showing contempt for those who disagree with him.
“His entire world is about making and keeping people angry.”
Nenshi questioned how the premier will succeed in her goal to build a bitumen pipeline to the West Coast when she has lost the confidence of chiefs across the province.
The Assembly of Treaty Chiefs, representing First Nations across Alberta, recently voted to ask the RCMP to look into whether the Oct. 19 referendum amounts to criminal treason by Smith and her United Conservative Party.
Albertans will be asked whether they want to remain in Canada or have a second, binding vote on leaving Confederation.
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According to the Criminal Code, treason is narrowly defined. It includes sharing sensitive information “for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or defence of Canada” with another state, or the use of force or violence in order to overthrow a Canadian government.
The chiefs, earlier this week, said organizing the referendum is an intentional treaty violation and that Smith’s government is ignoring serious risks to Canada’s sovereignty.
Smith responded Wednesday, telling reporters that the chiefs should “check themselves” for such an inflammatory accusation.
“This kind of overwrought language has no place in a democracy,” she said.
In a statement Friday, Sam Blackett, a spokesperson for the premier, didn’t respond directly to Nenshi’s criticisms but pointed to the chief’s allegation.
“Accusing elected officials of treason is dangerous and unacceptable rhetoric that only fuels division. It must be rejected entirely,” he said.
“We want to work collaboratively on a government-to-government basis to make our communities stronger. When the treaty chiefs are ready to do that, we’ll look forward to it.”
McAllister’s post accused the chiefs of engaging in “childish nonsense” and said their misaligned priorities made him wonder if they’re taking orders from someone else.
He acknowledged he was courting controversy.
“I’ll probably take heat for saying these things but if we don’t, we continue to bury our heads in the sand and pretend they aren’t happening,” he wrote.