Alberta Premier Danielle Smith plans to meet with U.S. officials next week during a trip south of the border.
According to Sam Blackett, press secretary for Smith, the meetings have been added to a trip planned and booked months ago.
“As the Premier said earlier this week, Canadian legislators should be doubling down on diplomacy with members of the U.S. Congress and lawmakers in both parties to ensure they understand how destructive these tariffs are for the American people, and how we will be there to help as soon as the tariffs are reversed,” Blackett said in an emailed statement.
Smith is expected to meet with Mark Ezell, the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Stephanie Coleman, the head of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and the CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp., Deana Ivey.
The premier will be joined by Alberta’s senior U.S. representative Nathan Cooper.
Earlier this week, Smith said the U.S. had “no excuse for their behaviour” after trade talks fell apart, but did not believe Canada could win through “brute force.”
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She also rejected calls by the Opposition NDP, along with others such as former premier Jason Kenney, to use Alberta’s energy exports as a high-stakes bargaining chip.
The U.S. has the power to cripple Canada energy-wise, she cautioned.
Smith predicted if Canada were to enact a 50 per cent tariff on the four million barrels of oil exported south each day, the U.S. would retaliate with tariffs of 50 to 100 per cent on refined oil and gas products exported to Canada, such as aviation fuel.
Blackett said Alberta’s diplomatic efforts include participation in organizations like the Council of State Governments (CSG) Midwest, where MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka Jennifer Johnson serves as representative for the province.
Johnson, a backbencher in Smith’s United Conservative caucus, is expected to be joined next week at the U.S. organization’s annual Midwestern Legislative Conference by six members of Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe’s caucus.
Saskatchewan is a full member of the Council of State Governments Midwest, while Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario are affiliate members.
During a news conference this past week, Smith also called for an accelerated approval timeline for the West Coast pipeline her government is pitching, and that she’s formed two committees in response to the breakdown in trade talks.
Smith said one committee, made up of her cabinet members, is set to meet Thursday to discuss following Saskatchewan’s lead by imposing a 50 per cent tax on U.S. alcohol brought into that province.
She said she prefers Moe’s approach to an outright ban on American alcohol in Alberta, noting Canadian products aren’t blocked from going south of the border.
—with files from Global News’ Karen Bartko and The Canadian Press
why has this Traitor not been thrown in jail or at least thrown to the states, which is more important to her than canada, she is disgusting!
On another article, the former BC CON leader stated “politicians have expiry dates”. Hopefully Marlaina, Scootch Moe and Drug Fraud reach theirs. Until this happens, Marlaina goes to wash trump’s tiny raisins and maybe this time she will be ‘detained’ by ICE and deported. To North Korea would be fine.
I am so glad I am in the common sense end of this dumpster fire. WEXIT and Make Alberta Greater Asap.
why has this person not been thrown out of this country she is a threat to Canada . I am tired of people not calling a traitor, a traitor. she is working with trump to undermine
Liberal’s have no memory or sense of self awareness at all and they show off their hypocrisy on every single political issue that comes up…
“she’s a traitor” after Carney turns to China for trade while they are actively supporting Russia in the war.
Stop trying to negotiate on your own, join canada
…bro fr?
Why aren’t we refining our own oil? Surely Canada has the ability to build our own refineries here.
Traitor! Please please please kick AB out or Confederation!!! Please!!!
She is a traitor. Let’s stop pretending.
Smith should go to the US and blow Trump. She is a two faced Canadian
Smith is a traitor and is only going to the USA to kiss the ring of her boss orange
So. When Ford does it it’s okay even though he’s a provincial representative? Help make it make sense elbozos…
This is ridiculous. This a FEDERAL job not PROVINCE one. Ms Smith should stay in her lane.
Danielle Smith is the only sane politician in Canada. That Canadians have been so easily manipulated and brainwashed to their own detriment is truly frightening. They cannot see that they are ushering in Communism and poverty, when Canada could be one of the most prosperous countries in Earth. Hopefully Alberta sees freedom soon.
Maybe she can just stay down there while she’s at it.
Danielle’s turds are smarter than any liberal scumbag
Our federal and provincial governments are working very hard together. I am thankful.
Why does Smith seem like a traitor?
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?? GOING THERE TO SUCK THEIR DXXX?
She must appease him; Clement Atlee be damned.
Whine,whine,whine! Pretty much all the magas do!
Hey traitor, stay there and don’t come back!
Just tell that damn traitor to STAY THERE. She’s persona non grata in Canada. She’s a maga agent.
Good! Somebody has to do Carny’s job!
Traitor? Ford’s been down there. Is he a traitor? You’re really going to have to describe your rules here.
Of course she is; she is a traitor to Canada. She needs to wipe the orange off her nose. Traitor Traitor Traitor!!!
Some adults should be representing Canada. Leadership on Ottawa and Toronto is certainly lacking
Im.sure she’ll get labeled a traitor by the intelligent left, for doing what she was elected to do. Stick up for her constituents and fight for them.
Keep up the good work being the only Logical leader in this country.
Traitor
I don’t know how but this is the liberals fault or something.