At today’s press conference addressing the E. coli outbreak in Calgary, Premier Danielle Smith choked back tears, saying that she’s “heartbroken by what these families are going through.”
How should we make sense of this? Many on social media were quick to dismiss Smith’s “crocodile tears” and lay blame for inadequate public health monitoring at her government’s doorstep.
I can understand the skepticism. Smith, after all, has made some remarkably insensitive (and ill-informed) comments about health-related matters, whether it’s suggesting that cancer is “completely within your control" until it reaches Stage IV, or repeating unfounded claims that hydroxychloroquine cured COVID, or that smoking is good for you. Where was her empathy for cancer or COVID patients?
And Smith has carried on with the UCP’s practice of appointing a Minister of ‘red tape reduction,’ signalling a blanket disdain for regulations that were put in place not to strangle free enterprise, but to keep people safe.
Watching Smith, I didn’t see her tears as an act designed to ward off criticism of her belated response to the crisis. Why not?
First, women in politics (and other professional settings) generally try not to cry in public. Showing ‘weakness’ inevitably invites criticism from those who are inclined to dismiss women as ‘too emotional’ for the job.
Second, this wasn’t an elegant, practiced tear wiped from her eye. It was a human being choking back tears.
To me, Smith looked like someone who has come to understand the responsibility of leadership. Her government runs AHS. The AHS administrator reports to her Minister of Health. To the extent that this is a failure of the public health system, it’s on her. To her credit, Smith didn’t engage in blame-shifting.
Politics is, in many respects, a game, a team sport. Politicians devote so much thought and energy to getting elected and holding their position that they sometimes don’t realize the weighty responsibility that comes along with the big prize.
A year ago, Danielle Smith was riding a populist wave into the Premier’s office. Today, she got a glimpse into Jason Kenney’s experience being the public face of government in the midst of a high-profile public health crisis. It’s a hard job.
The question is what Smith learns from this experience. Does she direct her government to move forward with more stringent public health guidelines and enforcement, red tape be damned? (Probably). Does she try to find a permanent CMOH, and ensure they are set up to do their job effectively, with adequate resources and clarity of authority and independence? (Less likely). Does she look with some skepticism at for-profit childcare providers and their complaints about the federal-provincial funding agreement? (Not holding my breath).
The Smith we saw at today’s press conference is a charismatic populist leader. She demonstrated herself to be in tune with the will of the people, and benevolently bestowed aid to the families with children who are ill. We were to understand that it was her feeling of sympathy for these families that garnered the aid, not any application of policy. (The family of a child with cancer in the room next door to one of the children from the daycare experiences all the same costs and difficulties but isn’t eligible for the payout). None of this is meant to say that Smith was insincere; rather, it tells us something about which issues will capture her attention and how she will address them.
I’m no fan of charismatic populist leadership - it lends itself to all kinds of abuse of authority. But there’s no denying its electoral appeal, especially in a place where populism is part of the political culture and there’s plenty of money to be used to show the leader’s benevolence and generosity.
Thanks Lisa, but I don't believe in epiphanies. And discretion enjoins me from repeating here the stream of profanity-laced invective that issued from me when I read how she "choked back tears." Simply put, I'm not buying it. Her last decade or so here in Alberta has shown who she really is, much more conclusively than her "crocodile tears" in a staged photo op. I'll have to see a lot more from her before I'll consider she's capable of the empathy you're suggesting here.
Nevertheless, thank you and keep up the good work.
Steve Manwarren
Calgary
This is a populist leader responding to the emotions of the population. I believe she believes what she says and does believe the $2k will help them but, her government’s failure to enforce public health guidelines IS on her. She may change her direction in response to this but I suspect it will be isolated to Health and unless more like this happens will carry on her Red Tape Reduction.
I worry what other areas are at risk …