Danielle Smith Threatens to Withhold Funding if PM Carney Doesn't Let Her Control New Judges

In breaking news today, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has doubled down on her Trumpian political tactics, publicly demanding that Prime Minister Mark Carney allow her to meddle in Canada's politically-independent judiciary system or she will ‘withhold funding’ from the judicial appointment process. Danielle Smith told PM Carney in a letter that she wants be consulted on all future appointments to Alberta’s Court of King’s Bench, the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Let’s talk about why this is a terrible idea…This shocking move comes just days after Alberta’s three chief justices issued a rare public statement, warning that democracy only functions when all three branches of government operate independently and respect each other’s role. Premier Smith has declared her desire to “direct” judge appointments in the past and has invoked the Notwithstanding Clause four times in the last sitting of Parliament alone.Tune into Episode 366 of The Bill Kelly Podcast for daily politics news updates.This Canada politics news update was recorded on February 4, 2026.Don’t forget to like, share, comment and subscribe to support Bill’s work. THANK YOU!Become a YouTube member for weekly public and private livestreams, and to hear Bill’s stories and life lessons from 50+ years as a broadcast journalist in his members-only series, THE WAY I SEE IT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeUbzckOLocFzNeY1D72iCA/joinListen everywhere: https://kite.link/the-bill-kelly-podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBillKellyPodcast/featuredBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/billkellypodcast.bsky.socialSubStack: https://billkelly.substack.com/WATCH THIS EPISODE and subscribe to our channel: https://youtu.be/tMweyKSH9vYFURTHER READINGDanielle Smith says Alberta will withhold funding for judges without more input on selectionhttps://globalnews.ca/news/11650810/danielle-smith-alberta-judges/Alberta judges urge respect, independence after Danielle Smith said she wants to ‘direct’ themhttps://globalnews.ca/news/11640013/alberta-judges-danielle-smith/Statement by the Chief Justices of Alberta Courtshttps://albertacourts.ca/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billkelly.substack.com/subscribe