Danielle Smith is betting that her unfiltered style will pay off in an upcoming leadership review

The regular leadership reviews held by the United Conservative Party and its predecessor Progressive Conservative party used to be a formality

OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has rankled friends and foes alike with her frequent verbal detours — most recently a lengthy digression on chemtrails at an Edmonton Q&A — but her freewheeling style could be her ace in the hole heading into a high-stakes leadership review next month.

The regular leadership reviews held by Smith’s United Conservative Party and its predecessor Progressive Conservative party used to be a mere formality. But that was before former premier Jason Kenney was forced to resign after an unfavourable 2022 leadership review brought on by an internal pressure campaign led by anti-COVID lockdown group Take Back Alberta.