EDMONTON - The executive director of Premier Danielle Smith’s office says he’s sorry for publicly calling for a high school student to be spanked.

Bruce McAllister’s social media apology Tuesday came as Smith called the comment offside, and the teen likened it to being bullied.

The Opposition NDP, meanwhile, said it's yet another example of unprofessional conduct by McAllister and one deserving of dismissal.

The controversy arose Monday night when McAllister, in his role as moderator for Smith’s touring Alberta Next town hall panel, sparked an uproar in Calgary for dismissing 17-year-old Evan Li, who had stepped up to a microphone to discuss a looming provincewide teachers’ strike.

It wasn't on the approved list of topics for discussion, and McAllister cut off Li’s microphone. When the

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