Alberta Premier’s Chief Aide and Drug Addiction Expert Resigns

October 9, 2024 TruthUSA

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s top adviser and key strategist for the province’s addiction strategy is retiring from public service.

The premier made the announcement on Oct. 8, thanking Marshall Smith, 52, for his work over the past years as chief of staff in her office. The premier hailed him as the architect of Alberta’s recovery-based drug addiction policy, a strategy the province calls the “Alberta Recovery Model.”

“It has been an honour to work with Marshall, I and our entire province owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for his service to Alberta,” wrote the premier in a post on X. “Countless lives have been saved and improved thanks to his commitment and service to the people of Alberta, steering our government’s response to the addiction crisis.“

The premier said she looks forward to continuing to work with Smith on the province’s approach to mental health and addiction, adding she hopes he can help other provinces build a similar model. “Doing so will save lives,” she said.

Rob Anderson, executive director of the premier’s office, will take over the role by the end of the month.

Marshall Smith’s dedication to addiction recovery stems from a personal addiction journey. He was once homeless with substance abuse issues on the streets of Vancouver. After a four-year struggle with drugs in the early 2000s, he decided to venture into the field of recovery.

He worked with former Premier Jason Kenney on shaping the province’s mental health and addictions system, and with Premier Smith after she took office in 2022.

He has also developed recovery programs in British Columbia and delivered lectures on addiction recovery in B.C. institutions such as the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and Douglas College, according to the Canada Strong and Free Network.

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