Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is taking her case for ending the trade war between the United States and Canada directly to American audiences, appearing on Fox Business Network on Monday to voice what she says is a widespread sentiment among Canadians.
Asked how Canadians feel about S. President Donald Trump's recent move to rebrand Lake Ontario as Lake America, Smith said: "Canadians are confused. I think they're disappointed."
She said the move is particularly confounding given the two countries' long-standing economic and military relationship. Smith noted that Canadian troops stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans in Afghanistan, and she referenced the upcoming 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States as a reminder of the close ties between the two nations.
"We don't understand why the Americans would want Canada to be weaker," Smith said. "I think we're stronger together."
The premier's comments come amid a trade war that has escalated in recent weeks. The United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars in Canadian exports starting Aug. 22, after trade talks fell apart. Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on S. products would start Sept. 8.
When asked who will be hurt the most by the trade war, Smith said it will topple small businesses and decimate jobs on both sides of the border.
She also reiterated that her province's oil and gas exports would not be used as a bargaining chip in trade talks, despite a push from some, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, to keep everything on the table.
Smith continued to urge the Trump administration and Prime Minister Mark Carney's government to sit down and resolve the dispute.
"Canadians are really hopeful that we can get back to the table — just talk about the outstanding issues, (and) resolve them. We came very close to a deal," she said.
Smith is not the only Canadian premier to appeal to American television audiences since trade talks between the two countries disintegrated. Ford told CNN's Wolf Blitzer last week his war of words with Trump got a little personal but that he wants to make a good deal for people on both sides of the border.
Ford and Trump had exchanged insults, with Ford calling the president a bully and Trump saying Ford was a "less charismatic, intelligent" version of his late brother Rob Ford. Trump, sitting in the Oval Office near a map with the name "Lake America," said Canada has been difficult to deal with and repeated claims the country is ripping off the United States.
"They want to be treated like a state, but they are not a state," Trump said. "The Canadian officials have treated us very badly. They are nasty people."
Alberta was also drawn into the debate Monday by Republicans and members of Trump's administration. S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking to CNBC, accused Carney of turning the trade talks into a "political shouting match." He rejected concerns the countries are in a "tit-for-tat" trade war, saying: "I don't think you can be in a tit-for-tat with someone who's 13 times larger than you are."
Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland pointed to Alberta's separation debate and said: "We should make it the 51st state."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2026.