Senior aide to Alberta premier urges First Nations chiefs to fix their communities

A senior aide to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has publicly urged First Nations chiefs to prioritize fixing problems within their own communities, rather than criticizing the premier. Bruce McAllister, executive director of Smith's office, stated on social media that chiefs should address issues like poverty, drugs, and violence before accusing the premier of treason.

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Shouldn’t the priority be fixing these failures for their people?

McAllister's remarks came after the Assembly of Treaty Chiefs voted to ask the RCMP to investigate whether Alberta's upcoming separation referendum constitutes criminal treason. The chiefs argue that organizing the vote violates treaties and threatens Canadian sovereignty. McAllister dismissed these accusations as "childish nonsense" and suggested the chiefs' priorities are misaligned.

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People are sick and tired of hearing unrealistic demands from them.

"People are sick and tired of hearing unrealistic demands from them," McAllister wrote. "It might be tolerable if their communities were beacons of prosperity, safety, strong families and real accountability, but sadly, they’re anything but." He listed "heartbreaking" problems such as addictions, housing, high unemployment, and substandard schooling outcomes that he believes should be the priority.

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It might be tolerable if their communities were beacons of prosperity, safety, strong families and real accountability, but sadly, they’re anything but.

Premier Smith herself responded to the chiefs' treason accusation earlier in the week, telling reporters they should "check themselves." McAllister acknowledged his comments might be controversial but insisted it's necessary to address these issues rather than "bury our heads in the sand."

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I’ll probably take heat for saying these things but if we don’t, we continue to bury our heads in the sand and pretend they aren’t happening.