Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she trusts Prime Minister Mark Carney will be able to reach a deal with the U.S. that avoids President Donald Trump’s threatened new tariffs on Canada, adding Carney is “wise” to avoid retaliating for now.
In an interview with Global News after meeting with Carney and the rest of Canada’s premiers in Charlottetown, Smith said Carney is treating the tariff threat with the urgency it deserves, noting the countdown to Aug. 19 when the duties are set to take effect.
“I think that the sense of urgency that the prime minister expressed is, I think, the right sense to have,” she said.
“I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he’s got the right team at the table.”
Carney has said he spoke with Trump Tuesday morning and they agreed to intensify trade negotiations, after the U.S. administration announced Monday it would hammer some Canadian products with 50 per cent tariffs in 30 days.
The prime minister said Thursday that intensity has been evident in the discussions between Canadian and American counterparts so far this week.
“There’s a level of engagement and a breadth of engagement that reflects the seriousness of the trade relationship, and the breadth of the issues,” he told reporters. “So it creates an opportunity now.”
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Carney added that while “everything is on the table” for potential retaliation should the tariffs go ahead, it would be “counterproductive at this stage to respond in advance.”
Smith said that’s the right approach.
“I would say you don’t go into a discussion saying you’re going to punch somebody in the nose if they don’t give you what you want,” she said.
“I think that the prime minister is being wise to say, let’s deal with the stages as they come. And the stage that we’re in right now is that there seems to be some sense of urgency over these next 27 days to try to get to an agreement. … We know what the irritants are from the American point of view, we also know some of the things that would be beneficial to the American economy if we can come to a deal on them.”
The premier added that pressure from the American people and politicians on the Trump administration may also play a role over the next month, along with continued lobbying from Canadian officials like herself.
“The approach that has been taken (against Canada) isn’t working for rank-and-file Americans,” she said. “They see it, they feel it. They know that they can get cheaper homes if you could get a deal on softwood, cheaper food if we could make sure that we’ve got a free flow of food going across the border, cheaper products on every front if we don’t have tariffs on steel and aluminum and auto parts.
“I think that message has been coming through from advocates in the United States, and because we — not just me, but all of the other elected officials (in Canada) — have been maintaining those relationships and making that case. I think it’s having an impact, and so we’ll see in 27 days if that’s true or not.”
Smith said she’s also welcoming the support of other premiers for energy projects that Alberta has been championing, including oil pipelines to British Columbia and Ontario, as well as the agreements signed this week to lift interprovincial barriers on alcohol sales.
Those deals, as well as premiers’ vocal support for Alberta remaining a part of Canada, may have an impact on the upcoming referendum on whether to pursue a path to separation, she added.
“I think that there’s been a lot of helpfulness that has happened from other politicians when they say, ‘We recognize Alberta had grievances and we want to solve them,'” Smith said.
“I think that’s what Albertans want to hear.”
Am not fond of any of our leaders federally or provincially but it astounds me that most here would just shut the trade down and think that we would be punishing the states?. Bahahahaha!!. Within 9 months the repercussions would be visible and we would be crying for the USA to take us back. We don’t have even 10% of the capable infrastructure in place to even entertain the thought of splitting from them. As Robin Williams once said, reality sucks!
Of course tariffs do not apply to strategic resources such as petroleum or electricity. Adding tariffs on those items would actually cause America real grief. Perhaps a 10 or 20 fold increase in selling those commodities would force Trump to reconsider. Or perhaps he would claim Canada a terrorist nation. Send in his goons. As he does when he doesn’t get what he wants. I am disheartened though not surprised by the Premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan. I guess it is easier to roll over and act dead rather than fight for Canada. At least nine other provincial leaders have the ba… stomach to stand up and fight.
Why doesn’t Canada give the 6-month notice to cancel CUSMA? Afterall, we are told how awful trade is with the US and how tariffs will ruin America. PM Carney told us that Canada is the quickest growing G7, best employment, with the most foreign investment, and he has 200 better trade deals with middle powers. Doug Ford even refers to Trump as a “RABID DOG”! He is brave considering 90% of all cars built in Ontario are sold south of the border, 90%! So, let’s end all trade and see which economy fails. Someone is lying to us.
I’m so hot for Carney’s Mr. Limpydick, I can hardly contain myself. He is my hero, I’ll kiss his azz if I could.
I wish someone put a muzzle on Dougie Ford, or was that Fraud… anyway…
Every time he opens his piehole, he just makes things worse.
When the PMO starts taking their marching orders from Danielle Smith, you know our country is in serious trouble.
What, the “great mind” behind the Alberta separatism referendum doesn’t want to displease the people she’s been cozying up to? No sensible Canadian should listen to a word she has to say, but we all know she can keep Albertans in line as long as she blames the Feds for everything.
Carney will only make a deal if it greatly benefits Brookfield !
Not a good look Danielle playing footsy with Carney. As an Albertan I will ask what you personally have to gain.
The PM does as he always does. Stops, considers options and goes with logic. He is not a Conservative who knee-jerk reacts or goes with the softest and easiest path while whining how unfair people at the big table are. Les… juvenile?
Then you see the fan-girl who repeatedly demonstrates how she goes running to the lap of the King of the USA saying he should not react at all. Her motivation is not for Canada but for her swoon boy’s interests.
Same actions and message, very different motivations.
The difference between Carney and Poilievre is Carney doesn’t react emotionally, he reacts strategically.
@Tony Fuda:
Why do you have a Russian ISP address?
LOL. Coward won’t enlist for Ukraine though.
Carney’s numbers are rising in Alberta and she sees that.
I still think PP was adorable in his Liberace Whinestone Cowboy gown though.
@Brian:
So your goddess Daniq is wrong???
These are not trade talks. This is a joke. On one side is the US and Trump being a bully. On the other side is an EU banker who is a c*ward.
Dont listen to anything Traitor Smith has to say. She’s a MAGA. She has eaten his food and drank his booze. She chums with O’Leary. The thing is a bought and paid for Trumper.
Carney and the word wise used in the same sentence is a joke
Ford can’t cut off or hike electricity. A huge part of Ontario’s gasoline and aviation fuel comes from Michigan pipeline. Turn off the power. They turn off the gas, FORD knows that. Tariffs increase the prices for the American people, but they have never said don’t buy it. We childlessly ban USA liquor rather than tariffing it to make tax money for canada. Our interprovincial taxes(tariffs) on booze is more than USA tariff. Now that elbows up math.
Alberta First! Let the rest of cunada ROT!
Go Danielle! ALBERTA FIRST!
We don’t have as much to tariff for it to matter. Ford are more concerned using Trump as a buzzword than actually putting out fires. Change your forest management policies back. Remove deadwood. Prescribe burn.
Carney talks big about fighting Trump but never has a plan or an answer. In the end, he drops the ball on everything and basically bends over backwards for him. Thank god Brookfield is having its best year ever. No surprises there. Ironically, a lot of US investments instead of Canada.
I used to like Smith, but I now think she should grow a pair like Ford and call Trump’s bluffs. And the same can be said for our useless liberal PM.
Carneys “Elbows Up” approach has been a total disaster so far. No tangible results in 16 months.
Why doesn’t Lard Ford cut off electricity instead like he stated before. Mr. Tough guy is all talk and no action.
Alberta doesn’t need to bleed for Ontario and Quebec. They can do that for themselves. Great call by Danielle Smith.
What would Smith know anything about wisdom? She’s been a disaster in any agency she’s weaseled herself into from the Calgary Board of Education through the equally dysfunctional Wildrose Party and now, unfortunately, the worst premier Alberta has ever produced.
Anyone thinking Smith’s constant statements of being nice to Trump must be part of the Maple MAGA. Being nice to Taco only gains more pain. The only way to deal with that bully is hit where it hurts. The US relies on Canada for heavy crude, critical minerals, potash and electricity. Usually heavily subsidized price for the US. Taco says they needs nothing from us, yet 80% of their supply comes from us. So, drop the subsidy and raise the price to the global market or shut it down. It won’t be long before Taco comes calling with his wig in his makeup hand asking for a deal. That’s how you knock down the bully from his golden toilet throne.
Smith looking after Alberta’s interests. Good job.
Alberta is doing fine. How about Ford Mr. Tough Guy start shutting off electricity instead of asking Western Canada to do it the Oil, Gas, and Potash.
She Loves stroking Donnies little pecker!
HOW FAR IS YOUR HEAD UP TRUMPS A S S, DANIELLE ?
That is some solid advice right there.
Another good tip that both Turdeau and Carney ignored is
“don’t bring your TDS to the trade table for negotiations.”
Trump haunts my life
Smith needs to quit running her mouth.Not good for Canada.
The NAZl traitor Smith backing up Trump as usual. The funny thing is Trump barely knows who she is. He wouldn’t invite her to the White House yet she’s still a MAGA f**king boot licker. Too funny 🤣🤣
We are TRULY being run into the ground by idiots.
NO CONFIDENCE
Alberta Oil sector should not take any pain for Lard Ford and his crumbling auto sector. If Ford wants to impose harder sanctions against the USA he can do it with Ontario goods and services.
What