Premier Danielle Smith returns to Alberta legislature with byelection win

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is heading back to the legislature.

Smith defeated four challengers to win a byelection Tuesday night in the constituency of Brooks-Medicine Hat.

She has been absent from the legislature for seven years.

She won a seat in 2012 as leader of the former Wildrose Party, but failed to even gain a nomination in 2015 after she led her caucus on a mass floor crossing to the Progressive Conservatives.

Smith is reconvening the legislature on Nov. 29 and is promising an ambitious agenda that includes help for Albertans dealing with sharp hikes in gasoline and electricity costs.

She has also promised to reorganize Alberta Health Services by mid-January, increasing the number of surgical procedures while adding more front-line staff to hospitals.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2022.

The Canadian Press