Alberta premier’s office says she was unaware of new opioid data before election

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s office is denying the Opposition’s claim that her government concealed the latest data on opioid-related deaths until after the provincial election.

The premier’s press secretary, Sam Blackett, says Smith was briefed about the data after the May 29 vote.

The provincial data released Monday shows 179 people died from drug poisonings in April, the highest number in a single month.

The NDP accused the United Conservative Party government of holding back the information.