Alberta Premier Danielle Smith moves to regain control of the narrative after weeks of distancing herself from allegations of political interference — now at the center of a series of Globe and Mail reports and a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed by a former Alberta Health Services CEO. While the NDP brands the controversy "CorruptCare," Smith pushes back, arguing AHS resisted change and acted too slowly. With her health minister under fire, a top bureaucrat shuffled aside, and an internal review process underway, Smith manoeuvres to steady the UCP ship. Meanwhile, new polling shows rising support for the federal Liberals under Mark Carney among young voters. This week on West of Centre, host Jim Brown breaks it all down with conservative insiders Erika Barootes and Sarah Biggs, along with health policy expert Lorian Hardcastle.

This week, Danielle Smith is juggling two battles — diplomatic in Washington and defensive at home. As she joins Canada’s premiers to push back against looming U.S. tariffs, a political storm brews in Alberta. Former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos has launched a lawsuit alleging wrongful dismissal, claiming she was fired for investigating what she felt were questionable private healthcare contracts. None of the allegations has been tested in court, but the case has sparked calls from both the NDP opposition and one of Smith’s cabinet ministers for Health Minister Adriana LaGrange’s removal. Will any of this controversy stick to Smith or LaGrange? And how is the NDP opposition responding? Plus, a new Leger poll suggests a Mark Carney-led Liberal Party could erase the Conservatives’ gains, shaking up the federal race. Political strategists Cheryl Oates and Andrew Sennyah join us, with longtime journalist Graham Thomson providing historical perspective.

Across Canada, more young people are ditching progressive politics and embracing conservatism. In this West of Centre Short, host Anis Heydari explores why Gen Z is swiping right — politically. Calgarians Sally Zhou, 24, and Chase Zaba, 18, share what drew them to the Conservative Party of Canada.