Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's campaign office has confirmed the Progressive Group for Independent Business (PGIB) will not be rehired for any future election business..In a phone recording obtained exclusively by the Western Standard, PGIB Executive Director Craig Chandler told independent political blogger Wyatt Claypool, he was paid a large sum of money by the Smith leadership campaign to keep quiet after he was fired, and claimed he would be rehired once the race was concluded.."I'm fired, but I'm not. I think you've gathered that by now," Chandler tells Claypool on the call.."I heard you were paid like a lot of money, just not to mess with them [the Smith campaign]," Claypool said to Chandler.."Yeah, I was," Chandler replied.."I'm also getting rehired after she [Smith] wins," Chandler said..Chandler then claims in the recording Rob Anderson from the Smith campaign fired him.."She [Smith] said like she was you know you didn't do anything wrong, but it was Rob Anderson who fired me, not Danielle.".PGIB is a membership-funded business and taxpayer association based in Calgary founded by Chandler in 1992. .According to Chandler he was let go September 28.."No notice. No conversation. Nothing. I found out on social media and from others before I even got an email. No courtesy call or anything," Chandler said.."I did my job already as most ballots were in.".Chandler is no stranger to controversy as he was prevented from running for the Alberta Progressive Conservatives in 2007, and was branded as too extreme for the Wildrose in 2012..Smith's campaign confirmed to the Western Standard that PGIB was one of several call centres hired to do live calling services during her UCP leadership campaign.."There have been no new contracts offered to PGIB," said Smith campaign manager, Matthew Altheim to the Western Standard.."His contract was terminated as per the public Twitter statement regarding a video.".The series of videos the premier's office is referring to are ones posted by former Alberta Justice Minister Jonathan Denis. The video was recorded in 2020 at a backyard party..READ MORE: UPDATED: Former Alberta justice minister apologizes for comments made while drunk.The three videos show Denis on a phone talking while speaking in a portrayed indigenous voice, referencing liquor stores and casinos. .“I have no recollection of these events, however, it is possible I said them years ago while under the influence of alcohol,” Denis in a statement to the Western Standard.."If so, I am truly sorry.”.On September 28, Smith called the videos "appalling," and said Denis had played no role in her campaign, but added she had fired someone who appeared in one of the videos..“I will not be associated with such behaviour and have instructed my campaign to immediately terminate any contract or other dealings with the involved company,” said Smith..“As someone with indigenous ancestry, I honour the heritage of Canada’s indigenous peoples as one of our nation’s and province’s greatest treasures and strengths.”.The fired person Smith was referring to was Chandler. Chandler said he was pictured in one of the videos during a barbecue at his place. He said no prank call was made in that video.."I didn't do anything as everyone can see in that video. I never made any comments at all. It was not me who did so," Chandler told the Western Standard on Wednesday.."The reality is in politics, especially in the campaign, sometimes when the story has legs, somebody's got to be thrown under the bus. And I was thrown under the bus. That's how politics works. Do I support Daniel Smith? Yes, I do. Am I ticked off that I got thrown under the bus for something I didn't even do. Yeah. Am I taking legal action against Danielle or anyone? No. Am I going to support the party? Yeah. So it's just, it's just politics. Unfortunately, politics is a blood sport and I just happen to be the victim.".Chandler told the Western Standard the money he received was payment for breach of contract and it was money he was owed. In the recorded call, Claypool suggests it was hush money to keep quiet.."It was a breach of contract. That's all. I just got paid out on a breach of contract. That's all it was," Chandler said.."The conversation was with Wyatt Claypool, the one who I thought was my friend. I thought it was in confidence because I said it was in confidence.".According to Chandler, he was "theorizing in that particular conversation" which Claypool recorded and distributed.."Yeah, I got fired for something Jonathan Dennis did that I didn't do at all. Everyone knows that."."Danielle fired me at that time just a week before, even though I delivered her the the victory. Sometimes people get thrown under the bus. I was the one who happened to get thrown under the bus at the time," Chandler said.."I am 100% supportive of Danielle Smith.".According to Chandler, Altheim told him he would get future business during the next election. But Altheim told the Western Standard that wasn't true..An official in the premier's office said: "Craig Chandler does not have a contract with the Government of Alberta."."They didn't use the word rehire. They said there would always be a place for me," Chandler said.."I've been in the game forever and I actually didn't do anything wrong, so when push comes to shove, I'm in the middle of a lawsuit to clear my name. Once my name is cleared. Guess what? I'll be back."
