Calgary student told he needed to be ‘spanked’ hopes comments will spark change

A Calgary high school student is speaking out after Bruce McAllister suggested he needed a spanking. Teri Fikowski reports.

A Grade 12 Calgary student whose microphone was cut off mid-question at the United Conservative Party’s Alberta Next town hall and told he needs to be spanked, is disappointed he has yet to receive a personal apology.

Evan Li, 17, went to the town hall with friends on Monday night and was cut off during his inquiry about the looming teacher’s strike.

“I applaud you coming here to speak. I don’t applaud how you’re trying to speak,” panel moderator and executive director of the premier’s office Bruce McAllister told the teen.

“I know you’d love some chaos, but your parents should turn you over your knee.”

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People in the crowd booed and yelled out it was a “rude” and “disgraceful” comment.

“I think it speaks a lot to his character,” said Li. “Alberta is viewed as a democracy around the world and it’s embarrassing for Alberta that the government is taking such action.”

The teacher’s strike wasn’t an approved topic at the town hall but Li doesn’t believe that warrants the treatment he received.

“He decided to censor free speech, which I believe is extremely shocking and should not happen in Canada.”

Li said he’s concerned about the upcoming impact to students if teachers walk off the job Oct. 6 and wanted to hear from the premier how her government plans to address it.

“As Grade 12 students, we are especially impacted by it, including things like diplomas and then we have to do university applications at this time,” he said.

McAllister did not respond to CTV News’ request for an interview but posted on social media platform X that the remarks were “inappropriate.”

“I regret saying it and I apologize. I’m committed to ensuring these conversations remain respectful and constructive.”

Li is disappointed he has yet to hear directly from McAllister, the premier or anyone from the UCP government.

He believes McAllister should be removed as the moderator at the final town hall Wednesday.

“I do consider those comments just absolutely unacceptable and it’s something he should not have been saying given the position he was in and representing the UCP government at that time.”

Opposition leader Naheed Nenshi said this isn’t the first time McAllister has been unprofessional during the town halls and is deserving of dismissal.

“These things have had a lot of cutting off of mics, a lot of frankly of belittling and insulting of citizens, which I find just so objectionable and so insulting,” he said while hosting Li on a livestream Tuesday night.

Premier Danielle Smith, who was also on the panel, called the comments off-colour when questioned about it at a news conference Tuesday.

“He apologized. I consider it at an end. I always take the view you have to engage with people respectfully that’s my expectation of staff and I’ve asked him to do better next time.”

‘It’s an embarrassment’

Political scientist Keith Brownsey believes the premier should have stepped in sooner.

“The premier was sitting right there and could have interjected right there and stopped this nonsense. I mean it’s an embarrassment not only to the government but to the entire province,” he said.

The Alberta Next town halls are described on its website as a “province-wide consultation to chart our path, secure our economy, and assert our sovereignty within a united Canada.”

Brownsey said the situation with Li Monday reflects that the town halls are designed to legitimize the government’s plan around pensions, policing, and immigration.

“It de-legitimized the entire townhall process,” said Brownsey.

“These townhalls are designed to support the government. They’re not really designed to tap into public opinion or for people to speak their mind.”

Li is hopeful that the attention to what played out Monday will spark change.

“I don’t see myself as some sort of political activist. I see myself as a student who had the chance to speak up and took that opportunity, but I do believe ignoring today’s issues that we youth face is ignoring today’s electorate.”

The final Alberta Next town hall will take place virtually between 6 and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and people must register to attend.

(With files from the Canadian Press)