Suddenly 'dirty oil' is 'Canadian energy' as Trudeau targets Alberta in U.S. tariff war

Justin Trudeau wants to gamble Alberta oil as a bargaining chip in a tariff war as Premier Danielle Smith fights for the province’s vital oil industry.


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Tonight, on The Ezra Levant Show, Justin Trudeau schemes as pressure from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump mounts with his call for tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Trump’s threat is clear: if Canada doesn’t address border security issues, a 25% tariff on all Canadian exports could be imposed. For Alberta under a Liberal PM, this isn’t just a geopolitical spat — it’s an existential crisis.

Trudeau looks eager to use Trump’s unpopularity in Canada as a political weapon. His government has largely sidestepped Trump’s primary demand for improved border controls, focusing instead on stirring opposition to the proposed tariffs. This strategy conveniently shifts blame for Canada’s economic struggles onto Trump, providing a useful scapegoat for political gain.

Meanwhile, Alberta’s Danielle Smith has taken a markedly different approach. She has repeatedly traveled to the U.S., not to escalate tensions but to advocate for Alberta’s role as a reliable energy partner. Her efforts highlight Alberta’s vast contributions to the U.S. energy sector, highlighting the province’s unique position as a cornerstone of North American energy security.

The economic stakes are enormous. Canada’s largest export to the U.S. is oil and gas, valued at $128 billion annually, followed by automotive products and machinery. While auto manufacturing in Ontario faces significant risks from tariffs, Alberta’s oil industry is even more vulnerable. The oilsands, a critical source of energy for the U.S., cannot be easily replaced. Yet instead of rallying behind Alberta, some Canadian leaders have suggested sacrificing the province’s energy sector to shield other industries.

This political maneuvering has infuriated Albertans, who already feel sidelined by federal policies that have stifled pipeline development and limited access to global markets. The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, overpaid for by Ottawa, remains a symbol of federal inefficiency. At the same time, projects like Energy East and Northern Gateway, which could diversify Canada’s oil exports, were canceled under Trudeau’s watch.

Smith’s strategy focuses on fostering cooperation rather than division. Her plan to strengthen Canada’s energy sector and address U.S. concerns, including restarting pipeline projects, repealing harmful federal regulations, and treating Alberta as an equal partner in Confederation. Her approach underscores the importance of building a “Team Canada” mindset, stressing that national unity and economic strength go hand in hand.

Yet Trudeau’s actions suggest a willingness to let Alberta bear the brunt of any economic fallout. By prioritizing political theatrics over practical solutions, he risks deepening the divide between Alberta and the rest of Canada. As Smith warned, this could lead to a unity crisis with far-reaching consequences.

For decades, Alberta’s energy sector has been both a boon and a target, derided as “dirty oil” by environmentalists and federal policymakers. Now, suddenly rebranded as “Canadian energy,” it is expected to carry the burden of preserving other provinces’ economic interests. This double standard is not only unfair but also shortsighted, as Alberta’s energy sector remains a linchpin of Canada’s economic stability.

If Ottawa continues down this path, the question is not whether Alberta can withstand the economic fallout, but whether Canada can survive without Alberta.


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COMMENTS

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  • Greg Wheten
    commented 2025-01-18 08:46:14 -0500
    Why is anybody going by anything Trudeau is saying, he is history. His passed has wreck Canada and the longer this WACCO opens his mouth only more bad things will happen. USA is our neighbor and a good one. Lets treat each other as good neighbors. Leave Trudeau out of talks.
  • Mike Unsworth
    commented 2025-01-17 13:39:31 -0500
    There’s just no end to Trudeau’s hypocrisy. Over the entirety of that bastards tyranny, Alberta has been treated like the school kid who gets beaten after school, everyday. Now he wants to dish out a kick in the nuts as well, blaming Alberta for finally having the ability to kick and beat down the bully. Screw Ontario and welfare Quebec. They hate Alberta still, however now pretending to have a love affair with us. F’m all and separate as a self governing Republic of Alberta. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Create our own markets and prosper. The bullies will receive their up and justifiable punishments, then left trying to cover their own asses for a change.
  • Ruth Bard
    commented 2025-01-16 23:01:37 -0500
    Shocking how many of those Brits are completely brainwashed. No wonder the UK is in the toilet. Worse than Canada.
  • Ron Voss
    commented 2025-01-16 21:49:32 -0500
    Smith should have added to her Team Canada demands:
    6. Reject net carbon zero by 2050 related to the globalist scam of man-made climate change.
  • bill snow
    commented 2025-01-16 21:35:31 -0500
    you stole my line! take your 13 billion and tell Que to fuck off.
  • Bruce Atchison
    commented 2025-01-16 20:57:22 -0500
    I think you’re right, Ezra. Politicians are ignoring what trump said about the border. They know that many citizens have been brainwashed to hate Trump. That’s the way leftists get people on their side. They use emotions and stereotypes to condition folks to hate without any consideration of the facts. They’re like the sheep in Animal Farm. And those sheep will demand action against the Orange Man without any understanding of the good he’s done.

    Those folks interviewed in the UK sure have drunk the Kool-Aid. While some wised up, others are otherwise. They’ve been manipulated, like Pavlov’s dogs, to hate on command. So mentioning Tommy Robinson gets them frothing mad. But drill down to their actual reasons and they can’t explain their irrationality. They’re “sposeta” hate Tommy and that’s that.
  • Joe Harris
    commented 2025-01-16 20:49:23 -0500
    Joly is an idiot, hope she runs for Liberal leader.