Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is urging the federal government to resume negotiations with the United States before retaliatory tariffs are set to take effect in two weeks. In a statement posted online, Smith said tariffs and counter-tariffs risk further escalating the trade war between Canada and the U.S., and she called on Ottawa to get back to the negotiating table.
The federal government announced plans to implement counter-tariffs starting Sept. 8 on a range of U.S. exports, including steel, aluminum, smartphones, and golf clubs, along with relief and support measures for businesses affected by the trade fight. Smith said she appreciates Ottawa's plan to support businesses and that her government is assessing whether additional provincial relief is necessary.
Smith has been a holdout among provincial and territorial leaders in supporting Prime Minister Mark Carney's counter-tariff plan, following the breakdown of trade talks with the U.S. on Friday.
Smith and Ford discuss next steps
Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke by phone on Monday to discuss Canada's ongoing trade war. Ford had said earlier in the morning during a news conference that he and Smith would talk about what needs to be done to protect Canadian workers and businesses, following the collapse of trade negotiations on Friday.
In a statement sent to CTV News, Smith confirmed the call, saying she recognized the "disproportionate impact" the tariffs have on Ontario businesses. She offered her support for how the two provinces can "constructively work together to strengthen the Canadian economy."
Smith emphasized the role of the energy sector, saying that "a strong energy sector creates a strong Canada" and that it can provide the revenue all levels of government need to support other affected sectors. She said she is committed to accelerating the construction of pipelines, including the Northern Shield pipeline from Alberta to Ontario and the oil pipeline to the West Coast, among other critical export infrastructure. She reiterated that cutting off Alberta energy exports to the U.S. would be extremely harmful to Canadians and is not a viable option.
Smith said the immediate focus should be on supporting affected workers and businesses, dismantling interprovincial trade barriers, pursuing strong diplomacy, and continuing to expand export markets. She said she looks forward to discussing these strategies with Prime Minister Carney and Canada's premiers.
Carney Accuses U.S. of Restrictive Measures
Prime Minister Mark Carney has accused the U.S. of trying to introduce last-minute measures that could have restricted Canada's ability to forge agreements with other countries and protect its culture. On Monday, Carney said Canada would return to the negotiating table once the United States stops treating Canada as a subsidiary and changes its attitude.
In a separate development, Ford called U.S. President Donald Trump a "dictator" and the "king of bankruptcies" after Trump criticized him on social media on Monday afternoon.