The head of the Alberta Next panel in the province has issued a public apology for a comment that Premier Danielle Smith found offensive. Smith, who leads the Alberta Next panel, stated that she expects respectful engagement and has requested improved conduct from the panel moderator, Bruce McAllister.
During a town hall in Calgary on Monday, McAllister made a controversial statement that has sparked backlash on social media. He told a 17-year-old participant, Evan Li, “I know you’d love some chaos but your parents should turn you over your knee,” after Li persisted in questioning the province’s spending on private schools.
In response to the incident, McAllister offered an apology online the following day, expressing regret for his inappropriate remark and emphasizing his commitment to maintaining respectful and constructive conversations. However, Li has demanded a direct, in-person apology from McAllister and called for his resignation.
Li, a Grade 12 student at Sir Winston Churchill High School, attended the town hall seeking answers about the province’s funding allocation to private schools amid concerns over classroom conditions and an impending teachers’ strike. Government budget estimates reveal a substantial increase in funding for private schools in recent years.
Premier Danielle Smith acknowledged McAllister’s strict approach to maintaining on-topic discussions during town hall events and described the incident as regrettable. She emphasized the stressful nature of moderating such events and commended McAllister for issuing an apology.
The town hall featured various sections for questions, including topics like equalization, an Alberta Pension Plan, and a provincial police force. Li’s inquiry occurred during the discussion on a provincial police force, where other questions were also cut short for straying off-topic.
Meanwhile, the opposition NDP leader has called for McAllister’s dismissal, condemning the offensive remark directed at a young citizen. The NDP leader urged Premier Smith to apologize to Li for the incident.
McAllister’s biweekly salary is disclosed to be $7,088.13, totaling over $180,000 annually, according to provincial records. The Alberta Next panel has been conducting a province-wide tour since July, with one final online town hall scheduled for Wednesday.