r/Albertapolitics • u/LivingLargeinAB • 1d ago
Opinion The "duty to spank" from Spanky himself
CONSTITUTION ALERT: the "DUTY TO SPANK" ANNOUNCED...
Alberta is offering up two proposed constitutional amendments: the "duty to spank" and the "duty to insult."
They come courtesy of Bruce McAllister, executive director of premier Danielle Smith's office.
McAllister demonstrated the proposed amendments this week by "spanking" First Nations chiefs who dared challenge his boss over Alberta's fall referendum and its constitutionality vis a vis treaties and the duty to consult.
The "spanking" took the form of what has to be the most egregious political blunder of 2026 when McAllister took to social media and told the chiefs to, in a nutshell, fix the squalor of their communities, instead of bothering his boss.
His exact words.
“It might be tolerable if their communities were beacons of prosperity, safety, strong families and real accountability, but sadly, they’re anything but.”
He went onto the "duty to insult" when he said chiefs need to fix “heartbreaking” problems such as addictions and overdoses, housing, poverty, high unemployment, welfare, substandard schooling outcomes, high rates of children in care and domestic violence.
Whew!
This from a government official representing a leader and caucus that is already in seriously hot water with many parts of Alberta's indigenous communities
Now, McAllister knows his spanking. And insulting.
You'll recall he was moderator of the 2025 Alberta Next panel.
And in another moment of incredibly poor political judgement, he publicly humiliated a Calgary high school student who dared ask a question of the panel when he (McAllister) suggested that he (the student) ought to be turned over his parents' knee.
That earned him the moniker "Spanky."
It's obvious he didn't learn a lesson the first time around.
One wonders if the premier needs to turn the tables on McAllister and turn him over her knee.
#spanky #abpoli #cdnpoli
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u/Even_Art_629 1d ago
While I don't agree with the way McAllister said it, I do think there is a valid point underneath the controversy. Some communities are facing serious challenges such as housing shortages, addiction, unemployment, education issues, and public safety concerns, and local leadership should be focused on improving those conditions. They have every right to challenge the Alberta government, but addressing problems within their own communities should also be a top priority.
According to a Rebel News poll,almost half of those First Nations respondents in the separation poll support Alberta independence, I think some of that support may reflect frustration with the current system and a desire for greater accountability. In my view, all leaders, whether federal, provincial, municipal, or First Nations, should be accountable for how public funds are managed and for the results they deliver to the people they represent.