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Tag: Notwithstanding Clause

Danielle Smith leaves Canada, flies to Saudi Arabia after invoking Notwithstanding Clause

Post author By Dave Cournoyer
Post date November 2, 2025

Albertans’ negative reaction to the government’s handling of the teachers strike was probably a big reason why Premier Danielle Smith was scheduled to leave the country before her UCP MLAs passed Bill 2.

We don’t know exactly what Smith was looking at on her phone when she was photographed sitting at the Calgary International Airport while her UCP MLAs were still in the Legislature on Monday night, but her conveniently scheduled week-long trip to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates means that she will not face questions from reporters about suspending constitutional rights of citizens.

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Tags Al Biel, Alberta NDP, Alberta Teachers' Association, Alberta Teachers' Strike, Bill 2: Back to School Act, Brad LaForge, Danielle Smith, Drumheller-Stettler, Naheed Nenshi, Notwithstanding Clause, Rick Strankman, Rob Anderson, Samantha Steinke, Saudi Arabia, Trudy Corbett, United Arab Emirates, United Conservative Party, Val Boese, Vicki Kozmak-LaFrense

Alberta Politics

Danielle Smith’s job approval drops, Naheed Nenshi gets a bump

Post author By Dave Cournoyer
Post date November 2, 2025

United Conservative Party Premier Danielle Smith’s own approval rating took a beating as well. The Premier saw her job approval drop from 44 per cent in May to 38 per cent this month. And, for the first time, that puts Smith below NDP leader Naheed Nenshi, who saw his approval jump up to 43 per cent in the same period.

Taking his seat in the Legislature this week, it definitely felt like Bill 2 gave Nenshi an opportunity to step into the spotlight and he didn’t disappoint.