Alberta Premier Danielle Smith delivered a speech in the Alberta Legislature aiming at federal Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi while defending her government’s efforts to protect Alberta from U.S. tariff threats.
She said that before Carney became prime minister, leaders across Canada stood united in defending Canada against the tariffs.
Smith said that all of the premiers and even former prime Minister Justin Trudeau were encouraging one another to get as much facetime as possible with any U.S. representative who would listen, working towards a “Team Canada” approach.
She explained that everything changed when Carney became prime minister.
“Now, all of a sudden, it is treason to talk to American media personalities that we disagree with. It is disloyal to try and persuade high-profile Republicans holding influence with the President to abandon his tariff policies on Canada,” said Smith. “Indeed, it is a high crime to try and convince U.S. officials to refrain from imposing tariffs until after our country has an elected leader with a strong mandate.”
Smith equated this mindset to the talking points pushed by both Carney and Nenshi.
“Their endgame is quite obvious. Frighten and divide Canadians. Try and make Canadians forget the utter incompetence of Liberal and NDP policies inflicted upon this country over the last ten years. Associate Conservatives with President Trump,” said Smith, adding that their tactics could result in another Liberal majority government if they play their cards right.
The premier said the country is vulnerable due to Liberal and NDP leaders waging war on Canada’s natural resources over the last decade.
Carney recently came under fire for flip-flopping on his position on the oil and gas emissions cap following the release of a report highlighting the economic damage it would inflict on Alberta.
The report found that Alberta’s GDP would shrink by 11 per cent by 2050, employment would decrease by 4.1 per cent, and the average Albertan would have $3,300 less in disposable income due to the federal emissions reduction plan.
“Canada has indeed been sold out—big time—and it’s been sold out by the utterly incompetent, self-righteous, and extreme policies of Liberal and NDP leadership across this country — including the Nenshi NDP here in Alberta,” said Smith.
She cited many of the same examples that energy leaders did when they called on federal leadership to scrap the cap and declare a “Canadian energy crisis.”
Smith accused Nenshi and the Alberta NDP of issuing posts on X criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump, turning into part-time TikTok rage farmers to instil fear in Canadians about Americans, and virtue signalling while accomplishing nothing in reality.
Conversely, she said that her government had spent hundreds of hours talking with, lobbying, educating, and persuading any American who would listen that the tariffs would result in economic devastation and help no one, resulting in millions of jobs lost.
“I’ve lost track of how many nights I have spent in uncomfortable hotel beds and in airports — doing everything humanly possible to stand up for Canadian and Alberta workers and families,” said Smith.
She said that Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have done the same.
Thanks to the work from Conservative premiers in Canada, Smith said that Canadians are currently subjected only to 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium instead of all Canadian goods.
Had Nenshi been in power, Smith said the 25 per cent tariffs would be across the board, and thousands of Albertan jobs would have already been lost.
Canada faces another looming tariff threat scheduled for April 2.
She said she would not sit silent and idly by like Carney wants her to. She plans to go into the lion’s den and try to tame the beast.
“So call me and my caucus whatever name in the dictionary you want,” said Smith. “We on this side of the house have made the decision to act with courage… so that Alberta may remain forever strong and free.”
The premier soon after travelled to Florida on Thursday for an event with Ben Shapiro to discuss the ongoing trade war.