EDMONTON — Premier Danielle Smith on Wednesday strongly rejected the suggestion that her ongoing absence from the province constituted a "vacation," noting that she had been working "almost continuously" from a property in Panama that she would prefer Albertans not characterize, photograph, ask the address of, or attempt to visit.

"This is a working visit," said the Premier's office, in a statement issued in the Premier's absence by a junior staffer who declined to be named for what they described as "obvious reasons." The Premier was reportedly reviewing briefing notes by the pool, where she has been reviewing briefing notes by the pool for the better part of two weeks.

The trip, the statement continued, was a chance for the Premier to reflect on Alberta's future at a strategic remove, the strategic remove being approximately 6,400 kilometres and one international border she has previously suggested Albertans might wish to consider for themselves.

Asked whether the timing — falling, as it did, immediately after the Sovereignty Act file had moved into a "delicate phase" — was ideal, the Premier's office described the question as "hypothetical and unhelpful," which sources close to the office interpreted as a yes. The Premier is expected to return to work on Jan. 19, by which time she will have spent more of 2026 outside Alberta than in it.

Critics noted that this is the second consecutive January in which the Premier has been absent from the province during a period of acute political volatility. The Premier's office responded by noting that the Premier remains accountable to Albertans at all times, including the times when she cannot be reached and is not in the country.

When pressed on whether she had reviewed the Sovereignty Act file before leaving the country, the Premier said she had reviewed it in spirit, which she said was more important.