DANIELLE SMITH: We won’t ‘sell out’ Albertans to another Trudeau export tax

"His [Trudeau’s] dad crushed the lives of thousands in our province … we won’t let his son do it to our people again. Never," says Premier Danielle Smith.

Premier Danielle Smith ignored pushback from her fellow premiers and outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who lauded a “Team Canada approach” on export tariffs earlier this week.

“We will be there to respond strongly, to fight for Canada, and to do it in a united way that makes sure that it’s fair across all industries, across all regions,” Trudeau told reporters yesterday.

Smith rejected export tariffs outright, citing catastrophic damage that would cripple local industries. A similar tax in the 1980s sent Alberta into a multi-year recession.

“We will take whatever actions are needed to protect the livelihoods of Albertans from such destructive federal policies,” she clarified.

On Wednesday, Smith refused a collaborative approach to Trump’s tariff war after Ottawa threatened retaliatory tariffs on Alberta’s energy exports.

“His [Trudeau’s] dad crushed the lives of thousands in our province … we won’t let his son do it to our people again. Never,” she said two days later.

Unemployment quadrupled from 3.7% to 12.4% in the 1980s, with thousands losing their jobs and tens of thousands more leaving the province. It cost Alberta over $100 billion, claimed Smith.

“Our government is not going to sell out Albertans to another Trudeau export tax on energy,” she said. 

While the prime minister did not blame the premier for defending Alberta, her colleagues were less diplomatic.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford claimed Smith was playing into Trump’s hands, while Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said she would “have to explain her position.”

“It’s the oldest negotiation tactic in the world—divide and conquer—so I don’t think we should play into that strategy,” Houston said Thursday. “As a country, we should stay unified.”

In a virtual meeting Wednesday, Smith made it clear she would take “whatever actions are needed to protect the livelihoods of Albertans from destructive federal policies.”

“Until these threats cease, Alberta will not be able to fully support the federal government’s plan in dealing with the threatened tariffs,” she said.

Smith, who will attend Trump’s inauguration next Monday, will be returning to the United States several times over the coming months to advocate for a return to normalcy.

She also implored the country to commence multiple infrastructure projects that bring Canada’s natural resources to global markets.

“Immediately start construction on the Northern Gateway [and] Energy East pipelines to diversify our customer base to Europe, Asia and our own country,” reads a social media post.

“Tell Germany, Japan and the rest of the world that there is, in fact, a ‘business case’ for Canadian oil and gas to be sold to them,” it reads.

Trump earlier threatened a 25% tariff on all Canadian exports—including Alberta energy—over its porous borders, which could enter into effect next Monday. It's been suggested that these tariffs are part of a larger strategy to annex Canada through “economic force.”

Premier Smith, meanwhile, urged Canadians to use this tariff threat as an “opportunity to correct the misguided direction of this country.” 

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters at a separate press conference that he would not pit one province against the others despite ongoing hostilities from the incoming Trump administration.

“I’m also going to unite our country,” he said. “I know the Liberals want to win elections by dividing Canadians from one province to another."

“Protect your jurisdiction, but the country comes first,” Trudeau claimed. “Canada is a priority, and I don't believe in jeopardizing one sector or another.”

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Alex Dhaliwal

Calgary Based Journalist

Alex Dhaliwal is a Political Science graduate from the University of Calgary. He has actively written on relevant Canadian issues with several prominent interviews under his belt.

COMMENTS

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  • Bernhard Jatzeck
    commented 2025-01-17 23:36:10 -0500
    I was caught in the aftermath of the NEP. My career and personal finances were in ruins, thanks to Pierre Trudeau. It took many years for both to recover.
  • Duane Pedersen
    commented 2025-01-17 19:54:29 -0500
    I agree with Bruce As a oil sands worker we own the oil when the budget just came out Alberta received 0 dollars and now you expect help Screw you Trudeau Carney and the liberals Danielle is doing the right thing and we in Alberta minus the NDP lovers agree with her The rest of you Premiers will loose in the end Its ok for Scott to not pay carbon taxes with his power guess what we are doing this with our Oil and OH YEA Trudeau your nothing to us I didnt vote Liberals never have Never will
  • Bruce Atchison
    commented 2025-01-17 19:25:40 -0500
    I remember the devastation of the National Energy Program. I also remember Pierre Trudeau’s failed gasoline chain. Now Justin the Turd wants to pull the same stunt of robbing Alberta. The other premieres are falling into Trudeau’s divisive strategy. But it’ll come back to bite him and those foolish premieres when the oil stops flowing into Ontario and Quebec.