Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office has issued a statement saying she used "imprecise" language after two instances when she said she had contacted Crown prosecutors.
Speaking to reporters Thursday in Edmonton, Smith said she had asked Crown prosecutors about charges related to COVID-19 health violations.
"We do have an independent justice department and independent Crown prosecutors, and I have asked them to consider all charges under the lens of 'is it in the public interest to pursue?'"
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"I ask them on a regular basis, as new cases come out, is it in the public interest to pursue and is there a reasonable likelihood of conviction?"
Smith made similar remarks last month. In an interview with Rebel News about COVID-related charges, Smith said she continues to ask questions about whether the prosecutions related to public health orders are in the public interest.
"I put it to the prosecutors, and I've asked them to do a review of the cases with those two things in mind," she said in an interview posted on the Rebel News website Dec. 23.
In a new statement issued Friday, Smith said she had discussions with Attorney General Tyler Shandong and the deputy attorney general, and not Crown prosecutors, as she previously said.
"At no time have I communicated with Crown prosecutors."
"While my language may have been imprecise in these instances, I was referring to the process and discussions above and the advice I received from the attorney general and the deputy attorney general."
Smith said she asked Shandro and his deputy to look into what options were available with respect to outstanding COVID-related cases.
"They advised me the Crown prosecutors would independently make their decisions on whether or not to carry on with COVID-related cases based on their assessment of whether there was a reasonable chance of conviction and whether it was in the public interest," she wrote in the emailed statement.
"I respect that independent process."