One of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s key advisers and the driving force behind the province’s recovery-focused addiction treatment policy is leaving the job.
In a social media post Tuesday, the premier confirmed her chief of staff, Marshall Smith, will retire from public service by the end of October.
She said he advised her at the beginning of this year that he would be leaving.
Marshall Smith has been held up as the architect of the ruling United Conservative Party’s approach to the drug overdose crisis, overhauling treatment programs in the province, and expanding and prioritizing recovery over harm-reduction services.
“The Alberta Model which he created focuses on providing people with mental health and addiction challenges with easy access to treatment and recovery,” the premier wrote.
“Without Marshall’s vision and knowledge this shift would not have …