Premier Danielle Smith said Friday that she and Prime Minister Mark Carney are committed to working through the issues between Alberta and Ottawa as separatism sentiment rises in the western province.
Smith told reporters she’s always taken the independence push seriously and that she’s spoken about it with Carney, who was in the United Kingdom “at the time that Brexit was not taken as seriously by political leaders.”
The premier said she doesn’t want to see a repeat of the surprise Brexit result.
“I know that there are people who are frustrated, disappointed, given up. And it’s my job, and I think (Carney) sees it as his job, to make the case about how we can work through these differences,” Smith said.
The premier got a warm reception at a gathering of Canada’s political right wing in Ottawa on Friday, where she was introduced as an example of how politicians can put conservative policies into practice.
Smith focused her speaking time at the Canada Strong and Free conference on her United Conservative Party’s “incredible record of success,” earning appreciative cheers as she highlighted the province’s lower taxes, reduced red tape and efforts to “(put) an end to the era of woke-ism.”
“It’s proof that when you get the fundamentals right and stay true to conservative values, the results will follow,” she said.
Her remarks did not touch on separatist sentiment in her province, which polls show is particularly high among UCP supporters.
Answering questions from reporters, Smith said her efforts to advance a memorandum of understanding with Carney on a potential pipeline to the Pacific coast are meant to “demonstrate that co-operative federalism works.”
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Smith also talked about her province’s economic ties to the United States and described the relationship as undergoing “a little bit of a disruption” right now.
“”What I’ve learned about President (Donald) Trump is you don’t go to him and say, ‘Oh, you better not do that because it’ll hurt me.’ That is like the last thing that is going to win him over,” she said.
“You say, ‘Hey, why don’t we work together? Because I’m going to help you, this is going to make America great.'”
Smith said that approach is part of the reason why Alberta’s trade relationship — and Canadian energy — is almost entirely tariff-free.
This year’s Canada Strong and Free conference has featured a significant focus on Canada-U.S. relations.
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra did not make a planned appearance Friday at the conference in Ottawa, which is billed as the largest gathering of Canadian conservatives.
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A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy said Hoekstra stayed in Washington, D.C., for meetings at the White House with senior officials in Trump’s administration.
Hoekstra attended the SelectUSA Summit with a delegation of Canadian businesses earlier this week.
On Thursday, former U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo spoke for an hour about the ongoing talks on the continental trade pact.
Pompeo told the crowd Canada should “move past the irritation” with Trump and remember which countries share its values. He argued that China is not a reliable partner and said Carney’s efforts to deepen ties with Beijing are misguided and “short-sighted.”
“Canada is important to the United States. We are incredibly important to Canada,” he said.
The conference wrapped with a panel on the Canada-U.S. relationship that included Conservative MP Jamil Jivani.
Jivani counts Vice-President JD Vance as a close personal friend and recently returned from a second trip to D.C., where he and representatives of Canadian oil and gas companies met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Jivani said he doesn’t believe a majority of Canadians bought into the “hysteria” around Trump’s threats to annex Canada and the trade war during the last election.
“I don’t think the majority of Canadians became anti-American bigots overnight,” he said.
He said the U.S. administration shouldn’t be made a scapegoat for problems in Canada and argued that Carney’s Liberal government has been given a free pass.
Jivani called on Canada’s private sector “to get more vocal” about calling for urgent action from the federal government on the trade negotiations with the United States.
“I do think that the average Canadian needs to know that our business communities need action and want action,” he said.
i like smith i must say. but the xats out if bag.hstd to believe people wont vote ti leave now that we have a once in s lifetime opportunity. cudos to the canvasers braving the cold to make this hsppen
How about get rid of Traitor MAGA Smith with the or*nge l*ps. That should stop the separation cr*p.
@ Cherry Dyler..How about Albertans follow that ancient Indian tradition and push the dissenting tribes out of Alberta. The tribes were grinding and waring on each other long before the Europeans came on the scene. I noticed that our feathered friends do not like talking about that aspect of their history.
Besides we do not want your poverty struck Rez’s. All the tribes are welcome to join the new Alberta. Otherwise it is frence time along with border controls and passports for those left behind.
Phuck this skank. Hurry up and build your deep sea port in Red Deer. Your rednecks will love that.
It all depends if Carney is truthful and follows through. If he and the Liberal are just patronizing Alberta again, I can guarantee we are gone our seperate way.
Carney had a year. He chose to do nothing. He chose to run away from the ONE mandate he had. Negotiate woth the US. Canada has a coward for PM wuth an ILLIGITIMATE government. Mark Carney seems to he doing everything he can to make separation happen. Albertans are kicking Canada out of our province once and for all.
And another thing Carney is king B!#chz, I don’t think that people are current enough to comment. I’m going to give you a few things to process, now I’m not blaming Trump, I’m starting facts here,
1, Trump and his goons are the reasons why things have gone through the roof, due to TARRIFS. Now because of our previous binding agreements in regards to the 70% of our goods and natural resources, we are stuck until cuzmois a.k.a. N.A.F.T.A. which expires July 1st, 2026. Until then we must ride out Trudeau’s mess. Not Carneys.
Really people, do you really not understand how vulnerable that would leave us, not to mention that Trump, possibly Russia and who knows who else would be exposed to, Alberta is not that rich to be able to sustain our province and our safety. We are not the only province that brings food to the table, get your facts and numbers strait. This is pure greed and arrogance. And half the people that are presenting and supporting this are not even from here or are 1st generation of settlers to be polite. I myself am a proud First Nations native from Treaty 7. I am so very proud to be Canadian. So I personally feel that if your not satisfied how the most prosperous country in real time doesn’t do it for you, then by all means take your stuff and go. Alberta is and will always be Canadian. We don’t need you, you need us. Bye bye.
Carney is running the country into the ground. Alberta has no choice but to leave. There is no common ground to build on. Carney is a climate change nut who will never change his mind. We can’t get rid of the fool so we have no choice but to leave.
Totally want to separate and would prefer to become a state of the USA. Canada is a nightmare under Trudeau and Carney.
It’s called ‘Making lemonade.
Any foreign born lady want citizenship via marriage, no strings, just pay my fee.
Alberta should separate/ go home …. trust me B.C. fully supports it! We also had a Danielle…her name was Christy.
too little too late dont bother talking lies about access. free alberta let’s vote 50 plus 1. gooo carney
This person is a true phony and undeserving of a leadership role!
Alberta should separate and that goes for all western provinces.
Jivani is not our agent, has no Backing from you Ottawa has representatives, so stay in your lane, like your leader does. Smith goes to these conferences but forgets to tell them her way is to cut benefits to Aish claimants , cut health care costs by make more medicines more costly and does not cover some at all.She forgot she has increased fuel cost with her .13 cent a litre , and would not remove it like her new Pal Carney did with his .10 cents a litre cut.
Smith sucks trump coc
Phuck off Dani.
Who threatens referendums all the time like this jerk-off?
Ignore her. She’s a trumper.
That stupid.
She loves PP. bwahahahahahahaha
Phuck off.
I am not running the province, she is.
Cons don’t have the intelligence for anything other then putting down others.
Brad your a goof you pig dog
What a waste of time and money.
@juju: How’s Russia?
No, there is no working with Ottawa or our Federal Govt because they will be and will remain, corrupt to the core. Carney doesn’t care about Canadians. Never has, never will. He’s finishing what the Trudeau twins started.
Maybe, just maybe, we can have a Brexit-like result in October. Then my children will have a future again.
Canada has always sold a lie to Albertans. No more lies, it is time to leave.
What an expected Conservative hypocrite.
How many knee pads has she gone through trying to seperate? Why does canada entertain this? And still might / pretend to give her and alberta a pipeline? Should be exiled.
Oink Oink Oink. More Oink Oink. Alberta Oink Oink. Oink Oink Oink Oink Oink. I am Dani Smith Oink Oink Oink Oink Oink.
Die