Danielle Smith Condemns Journalist Targeting Amid Alarming Press Freedom Concerns
What’s been unfolding in Alberta over the last few days is something deeply disturbing—and honestly, quite unprecedented in Canada. We’re seeing an escalation in hostility toward the press that has now entered the realm of targeted surveillance, harassment, and attempts at intimidation. The focus? Carrie Tait, a Globe and Mail journalist who’s been reporting on allegations of political interference within Alberta’s health authority. And the reaction from Premier Danielle Smith? Mixed signals at best.
Let me walk you through it.
An anonymous account on X (formerly Twitter) called “The Brokedown” began posting photos of Tait—clearly taken without her knowledge—while she met with former political staffers in public places. The account even tracked her movements across Calgary. This wasn’t media criticism. This was surveillance. To make matters worse, someone spoofed her phone number and began contacting her network under false pretenses.
Let’s be clear: this is targeted harassment.
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The response? Premier Danielle Smith initially dodged questions about it, even laughing off a question from a reporter. Later, she issued a vague condemnation in a CTV interview, saying, “No one should be harassing anybody.” She added that she didn’t comment on “sock puppet” accounts and distanced herself from the entire ordeal. But here’s the thing—when the harassment is coming from figures or supporters within your political orbit, brushing it off simply isn’t good enough.
Meanwhile, Brent Jolly of the Canadian Association of Journalists didn’t mince words. He called the tactics a “bold-faced assault” on press freedom, comparing them to behaviors one might expect in authoritarian regimes—not democratic Canada. He pointed out that it’s one thing to criticize reporting, but quite another to stalk, surveil, and attempt to unearth sources with the goal of silencing truth.
And then there’s David Wallace, the podcaster and self-described “political dark arts” operative who’s been linked to previous surveillance cases. Wallace denies involvement in this incident but confirmed he received the photos before they surfaced publicly. With a track record that includes alleged surveillance of politicians in Ontario and attempts to expose journalists in Alberta, Wallace’s presence in this story adds another sinister layer.
For journalists like Carrie Tait, who are just doing their jobs—asking hard questions, exposing truths that powerful people would rather keep buried—this kind of intimidation isn’t just unethical. It’s dangerous. It’s a message to every journalist in Alberta and across Canada: “If you dig too deep, we’ll come for you.”
So yes, Danielle Smith did eventually issue a condemnation. But let’s not forget her government’s broader posture toward the media—one that’s often hostile, combative, and dismissive. When leadership fails to stand firmly and immediately against this kind of behavior, it creates a culture where intimidation of journalists is normalized.
That’s not democracy. That’s a warning sign.
And every Canadian should be paying attention.
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