debut: 2/16/17
38,339 runs
Smith is fighting Ottawa rather than Trump’s tariff. This will cost us all
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith did not attend Wednesday’s meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada’s other premiers in person, but she appeared virtually. Then she skipped the news conference afterward, refused to sign a joint statement and released a contrary statement.Other energy-exporting provinces – British Columbia (natural gas), Saskatchewan (oil and uranium), Manitoba (electricity), Ontario (electricity), Quebec (electricity) and Newfoundland (oil) – have not made the same ultimatums. They realize we are in the toughest situation with the United States since the 19th century, and we need to consider all options. But not Ms. Smith.
It was clear that as Team Canada was strategizing on how to address U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threatened 25-per-cent tariff against Canada, the team was – and still is – missing one province. This is not surprising, but still very disappointing. Moreover, Ms. Smith’s actions will not protect Alberta from the weight of Mr. Trump’s attack.Given the devastating impact a 25-per-cent U.S. tariff would have on the Canadian economy, Canada needs to consider all possible options. And energy exports (oil, natural gas and electricity) are the most effective weapon this country has in its tool box. But Ms. Smith wants absolutely no talk of an energy embargo or of a Canadian export tax on energy.
In a fight between Canada and the U.S., Ms. Smith appears to be taking the side of Mr. Trump. She met in person with him at Mar-a-Lago, but she did not do the same with Canadian political leaders. While Ms. Smith has strongly criticized Prime Minister Trudeau and other provinces, she has refrained from criticizing Mr. Trump. While she has been developing plans on how to stymie Canada’s retaliation, she has not been doing the same thing against Mr. Trump’s tariff.Even the graphic that accompanied Ms. Smith’s contrary statement was revealing. The U.S. Stars and Stripes were prominent, but Canada’s Maple Leaf was covered up. In addition, the headline read “No Ottawa Tariffs on Alberta Energy Exports.” It made no mention of Mr. Trump’s tariff threat. It was as if Ottawa were considering tariffs on energy exports for no reason whatsoever.
Ms Smith
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith did not attend Wednesday’s meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada’s other premiers in person, but she appeared virtually. Then she skipped the news conference afterward, refused to sign a joint statement and released a contrary statement.Other energy-exporting provinces – British Columbia (natural gas), Saskatchewan (oil and uranium), Manitoba (electricity), Ontario (electricity), Quebec (electricity) and Newfoundland (oil) – have not made the same ultimatums. They realize we are in the toughest situation with the United States since the 19th century, and we need to consider all options. But not Ms. Smith.
It was clear that as Team Canada was strategizing on how to address U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threatened 25-per-cent tariff against Canada, the team was – and still is – missing one province. This is not surprising, but still very disappointing. Moreover, Ms. Smith’s actions will not protect Alberta from the weight of Mr. Trump’s attack.Given the devastating impact a 25-per-cent U.S. tariff would have on the Canadian economy, Canada needs to consider all possible options. And energy exports (oil, natural gas and electricity) are the most effective weapon this country has in its tool box. But Ms. Smith wants absolutely no talk of an energy embargo or of a Canadian export tax on energy.
In a fight between Canada and the U.S., Ms. Smith appears to be taking the side of Mr. Trump. She met in person with him at Mar-a-Lago, but she did not do the same with Canadian political leaders. While Ms. Smith has strongly criticized Prime Minister Trudeau and other provinces, she has refrained from criticizing Mr. Trump. While she has been developing plans on how to stymie Canada’s retaliation, she has not been doing the same thing against Mr. Trump’s tariff.Even the graphic that accompanied Ms. Smith’s contrary statement was revealing. The U.S. Stars and Stripes were prominent, but Canada’s Maple Leaf was covered up. In addition, the headline read “No Ottawa Tariffs on Alberta Energy Exports.” It made no mention of Mr. Trump’s tariff threat. It was as if Ottawa were considering tariffs on energy exports for no reason whatsoever.
Ms Smith
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