Premier Danielle Smith charmed by Mark Carney just like she was coopted by Jim Prentice causing the collapse of the Wild Rose Party

Danielle Smith has recently expressed remarkable optimism about her relationship with Prime Minister Mark Carney, highlighting more common ground and a productive tone compared to her dealings with previous federal leaders. This tone echoes, for some observers and critics, her earlier political trajectory—most notoriously when, as Wildrose leader, she was persuaded by then-premier Jim Prentice to cross the floor, which led to the effective collapse of the Wildrose Party as an opposition force in Alberta.globalnews+3

Danielle Smith and Mark Carney

Smith describes her meetings with Carney as unusually constructive, stating they found “unprecedented common ground.” She points to concrete policy shifts—like Carney’s cancellation of the federal carbon tax and signals toward greater support for Alberta’s energy interests—as reasons for her renewed optimism. She encourages Albertans to “have faith in the process” and describes the mood as “night and day” compared to prior federal relations. However, Smith herself acknowledges that many Albertans are wary, recalling times when the “rug has been pulled out from them several times before”.calgaryherald+4

The Prentice Episode and Wildrose Collapse

Smith’s 2014-15 floor-crossing to Prentice’s Progressive Conservatives remains a defining and controversial moment in her career. At that time, she stated she was convinced by Prentice’s overtures of fiscal conservatism, only to later regret the move as “very naïve,” admitting she was “sold a bill of goods.” The merger effectively gutted the opposition Wildrose Party, shattered trust among members, and fueled a backlash that took years to overcome. Smith later reflected that she underestimated the consequences and misjudged both Prentice’s intentions and her caucus’s loyalty.globalnews+4

Comparison and Political Perception

Political analysts and commentators are already drawing parallels between Smith’s sunny public expressions about Carney and her ill-fated trust in Prentice. Critics warn of a repeating pattern: Smith projecting optimism and a willingness to collaborate, which, if met with unfulfilled promises or strategic missteps, could risk destabilizing her current United Conservative base and alienating skeptics. Smith’s own rhetoric, however, is more measured than in the Prentice era, repeatedly emphasizing the need for patience and proof of results, rather than instant trust.calgary.citynews+2

Context and Implications

• Smith’s political style has at times left her vulnerable to charges of being “co-opted,” a dynamic she seems aware of and is now trying to guard against by setting public timelines and noting the skepticism of her constituents.

• The Alberta political legacy—especially among conservatives—remains haunted by the Wildrose collapse, which is regularly cited whenever Smith is seen to extend trust to federal leaders or persisting establishment figures.nationalpost+1

In summary, Danielle Smith’s current overtures to Mark Carney are being closely compared—positively by her, skeptically by others—to her history with Jim Prentice and the Wildrose Party. Observers await tangible results, wary of Alberta’s political past repeating itself.calgaryherald+2

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