Smith Dismisses Concerns Manning Report Used for Partisan Purposes After Leaked Email

Alberta’s premier has dismissed concerns that Preston Manning is using his COVID-19 review panel’s report for partisan purposes after a leaked email encouraged the federal Conservatives to use his findings in the next election against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party. An email that appears to be from the former Reform Party leader was shared Nov. 20 on X by Liberal MP George Chahal, who said he received a copy of the message. “If the response of the Liberal/NDP coalition to the 2020-2023 COVID crisis should become an election issue in 2024, there may be some material in this report that could be used by the CPC [Conservative Party of Canada] to say ‘What should have been done to cope with the COVID crisis and what should be done to cope with future public emergencies’,” the email reads....