Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she had shaken Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s hand before the infamous photo of them together happened. .“We had already said our hellos and then we were going to our respective chairs before the meeting started,” said Smith at a Thursday press conference. .“I was taken by surprise that he wanted to shake hands again.” .Smith said Trudeau “missed the landing and it was a little bit awkward.” She added she had a productive discussion with him after that. .Trudeau shook hands with Smith on Tuesday after he announced he was saving Canada’s healthcare system with another multi-billion dollar infusion of federal money. .READ MORE: KRAYDEN: Trudeau keeps his thumb on Alberta in awkward handshake with Danielle Smith.He put his thumb on the top of Smith’s hand to keep it in place. .He left a thumbprint on her hand, which social media users commented is part of a trend of him using contempt to the point of abuse to female politicians. .Meanwhile, Smith said she believed in free speech when asked about comments Alberta NDP candidate Luanne Metz (Calgary-Varsity) made. .“We have different people with different points of view,” she said. .The premier concluded by saying there were people participating in anti-lockdown protests who were called names, so she did not want to get into it. She added it will be “up to Albertans to decide when it comes to the election which candidate best represents their views.” .Former Maverick Party leadership candidate Tariq Elnaga uncovered on Monday Metz had attended a pro-lockdown protest and said Alberta’s COVID-19 response was shameful. .READ MORE: Alberta NDP candidate participated in a pro-lockdown protest, called Alberta embarrassing .Metz decried the Alberta government when medical experts around the world roasted it for eliminating COVID-19 restrictions. .“Soooo embarrassed to be in Alberta,” she said.
