Danielle Smith alleges Joe Anglin secretly recorded caucus meetings

Wildrose leader Danielle Smith is alleging that MLA Joe Anglin, who resigned from caucuson Sunday, may have secretly recordedcaucus meetings.

"There was a suspicion that everything that we said was being recorded, Smith said in Calgary on Monday.

Anglin, MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, resigned hours before members were to vote on a motion to kick him out of the party.

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When asked about Smith's allegations,Anglindenied he ever taped a caucus meeting.

Never, he told reporters at the Alberta legislature in Edmonton. He said that he didn't know about Smith's suspicionsuntil reporters asked himabout them on Monday.

If you thought that was happening to you, wouldnt you ask the person?

Smith said that she has no proof that Anglin ever recorded a caucus meeting. The only recording Anglin ever provided to the party wasof a recent annual general meetingin his riding, which could have been made by someone else.

However, Smith said the ongoing suspicionsmade it difficult for caucus to have discussions behind closed doors.

There were a lot of circumscribed conversations that have occurred over the last year because of that worry that if we had full, frank, open discussion about the things we needed to deal with, that we couldnt trust one member around the table.

No success in byelections

Smith put her leadership up for review last week after the Wildrose failed to win any of the four ridings in the Oct. 27 byelection.

On Sunday, caucus voted unanimously in favour of Smith withdrawing that request. Smith says the review is no longer required now that Anglin has left.

Our caucus is united without him being a part of our caucus, she said.

Still the party has made some staffing changes.

Steve Rennick, the partys former director of legislative affairs, was announced as Smiths new chief of staff. The party also made other changes on Monday.

As for Anglin, he will continue to sit in the Alberta legislature as an independent.

Despite all that has happened the past two days, Anglin said that he still respects Smith. His issue isnt with his former leader, he said, but with the people who were advising her.