Alison Redford is unapologetic in first interview since stepping down

Alison Redford finally gives an interview with the Globe and Mail, a year after stepping down as premier of Alberta.

While she blames a lot of her downfall on a smear campaign from the opposition, there is a lack of any sort of apology, even though she acknowledges she was a ‘polarizing’ figure.

University of Toronto political science professor, Nelson Wiseman says he’s not shocked by what Redford had to say, and feels it’s outdated.

“Alison Redford is yesterday’s story. I thought the most significant development was all the talk about how the Conservatives were doomed to lose because they had really dropped in the polls,” Wiseman said. “All of a sudden, they chose Jim Prentice and they were sky-rocketing.”

He added that he doesn’t feel she was necessarily blaming anyone.

“The part of the story that caught my eye was travelling with her daughter and her pointing out that a lot of ministers in the government travel with their wives, a lot more than she ever travelled with her daughter and people never seemed to make a fuss about that,” Wiseman added. “And I thought, ‘yeah, that’s sort of an interesting notion.’ If we’re going to be critical of a person travelling with their daughter… why is it okay if the wife goes, but not the daughter?”

One of the biggest shocks to Mount Royal University political analyst, Duane Bratt is that Alison Redford still isn’t working.

“That’s rare for former premiers,” Duane Bratt, adding that her desire to work in either the energy sector, or human rights are on two ends of the spectrum. “One screams Alberta, one screams international. I think if she was looking for a place in the energy sector, that would have already happened. I’m not sure they’re hiring right now.”

University of Calgary political scientist Doreen Barrie adds there are some people who still aren’t over what happened.

“I find it extremely distasteful the way some people will only be satisfied with her head on a platter,” Barrie explained. “People are still wanting to pursue her, wanting her to apologize, wanting her to wear sackcloths and ashes.”

She adds there were probably a number of misjudgements from the former premier, but she has already apologized enough.

Redford says she will call Calgary home.