Danielle Smith

This article is about the Canadian businesswoman and politician. For the Californian martial artist, see Danielle Smith (martial artist).

Danielle Smith
Leader of the Wildrose Party
Incumbent
Assumed office October 17, 2009
Preceded by	Paul Hinman
Personal details
Born	April 1, 1971 (1971-04-01) Calgary, Alberta
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Wildrose Party
Spouse(s)	David Moretta
Alma mater	University of Calgary
Occupation	business lobbyist and property rights advocate
Profession	journalist, broadcaster
Website	Danielle Smith

Danielle M. Smith (born April 1, 1971) is an Alberta journalist, broadcaster, business lobbyist and property rights advocate. Until recently she was the Alberta Director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. On October 17, 2009, Smith was elected leader of the Wildrose Alliance Party.

She was named one of Calgary's "Top 40 Under 40" in 2004.

Family

Smith was born in Calgary and is the second of five children. Both parents were working class, but earned business degrees and later worked in the oil patch. Of mainly English and Irish ancestry, Smith is also part Ukrainian on her father's side, and Cherokee on her mother's.^{[citation needed]} Previously married to her college sweetheart, Sean McKinsley, in 2006 Smith wed her second husband, David Moretta, managing editor for Global Calgary.

Education

Smith holds a B.A. in English and a B.A. in economics from the University of Calgary. Her education in public policy began with a one-year internship with the Fraser Institute.

Career

Summer 2010 promotional signs

Smith's political life began in 1998 when she was elected to the Board of Trustees for the Calgary Board of Education. In 1999, Learning Minister Lyle Oberg dismissed the entire Board after Chair Teresa Woo-Paw described the board as "completely dysfunctional". Included on that board was Jennifer Pollock, currently the Federal Liberal Candidate in Calgary West. None of the trustees elected 1998 ran for re-election in 1999.

Subsequently, Smith pursued work as an advocate for ranchers, farmers and other rural land owners with the Alberta Property Rights Initiative and the Canadian Property Rights Research Institute.

Smith later joined the Calgary Herald as a regular columnist and editorial board member—one of the youngest women ever to do so in a major Canadian market.

In September 2006, she co-hosted the Calgary Congress, a national assembly of citizens and economic and constitutional specialists to consider basic federal reforms for Canada.

Her work in print journalism led to an opportunity to succeed Charles Adler as host of the national current affairs program Global Sunday. Smith was also host of two talk radio programs focused on health policy and property rights.

Smith was hired by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in 2006, becoming provincial director for Alberta.

Following party leader Paul Hinman's resignation as leader of the Wildrose Alliance Party, Smith was elected as party leader on October 17, 2009 by a 3-to-1 margin.

Politically she has been described as "a moderate libertarian" and "a libertarian and social moderate." She identifies herself as a conservative but qualified that saying she was a "libertarian and pro-choice."

She will be running in the 2012 provincial election in the southern riding of Highwood.

External links

• Official Danielle Smith website
• Danielle Smith's Facebook page