Danielle Smith celebrates after being chosen as the new leader of the United Conservative Party and next Alberta premier in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Danielle Smith celebrates after being chosen as the new leader of the United Conservative Party and next Alberta premier in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
CALGARY - Former journalist and business owner Danielle Smith won the United Conservative Party's leadership race on Thursday and, in doing so, becomes Alberta's next premier. Here are some facts about Smith:
Born: April 1, 1971 in Calgary.
Family: She is married to David Moretta and has a stepson.
Before politics: Smith graduated with degrees in economics and English from the University of Calgary. She was a trustee for the Calgary Board of Education. She wrote editorials with the Calgary Herald and hosted a current affairs TV show called 鈥淕lobal Sunday." She was a provincial director for the 好色tv Federation of Independent Business. She and her husband now own and operate The Dining Car restaurant in High River.
Politics: In 2009, she won the leadership of the Wildrose Alliance, later to become the Wildrose Party. In the 2012 provincial election, Smith won a seat in the constituency of Highwood and the party took over official Opposition status from the Liberals, In 2014, she led eight Wildrose members across the floor to join the governing Progressive Conservatives. After much backlash, she lost in the 2015 election.
Quote: 鈥淎fter everything I鈥檝e done in the past to divide the movement, then try to bring it together the wrong way, I feel like I owe it to the conservative movement to do what I can to be a force of unity.鈥
This report by 好色tvwas first published Oct. 6, 2022.
