Alberta premier says politicians cannot talk to accused, but her call was OK

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, a week after she was overheard on a leaked phone call offering to help an accused with his upcoming criminal trial, says MLAs and cabinet ministers are not free to engage in such discussions because the system must be independent. Smith says her conversation with Calgary street pastor Artur Pawlowski about his trial stemming from a COVID-19 protest does not represent a policy change by her government. She also says she did nothing irregular on the call, and her jo