Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is pushing her message for an end to the fierce U.S.-Canada trade war directly to Americans.
Smith, appearing on the Fox Business Network on Monday, was asked how Canadians feel about U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent move to rebrand Lake Ontario as Lake America.
“Canadians are confused,” she said.
“I think they’re disappointed.”
Smith added it’s particularly confounding given the two countries’ long-standing economic and military relationship.
Canadian troops stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans in Afghanistan, she said, and the upcoming 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States is a reminder of that close relationship.
“We don’t understand why the Americans would want Canada to be weaker,” Smith said.
“I think we’re stronger together.”
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 U.S. products would start Sept. 8.
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When asked who will be hurt the most by the trade war — Canada or the United States — Smith said it will topple small businesses and decimate jobs on both sides of the border.
She also repeated that her province’s oil and gas exports wouldn’t 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 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 isn’t 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.
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Ford and Trump had exchanged insults, with Ford calling the president a bully, among other things, and Trump saying the premier was a “less charismatic, intelligent” version of his late brother, former Toronto mayor Rob Ford.
Sitting in the Oval Office on Thursday, near a map with the name “Lake America” over the body of water, Trump 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.
When asked why he’s targeting American allies with these types of actions instead of American adversaries, Trump said “they haven’t treated us well.”
“The Canadian officials have treated us very badly,” Trump said. “They are nasty people.”
Canadians aren’t confused Smith, it’s just another trump ego boost. Yawn…
I have to learn to comment like a Canadian.
I can see why Smith is confused. Is that understated enough?
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@Debra Olafson To be fair, Canadians are an extremely stupid people.
Khalistanis are all in on Alberta separatism!
@Gord Hasay. Why would anyone quote war criminal Obama?
““Canadians are confused,” she said.”
No we aren’t, it’s just Smith. Canadians think this is just a lesson about how ignorant ‘Trumpets’ are.
“If you think education is expensive, just wait till you see the cost of ignorance.” (Barack Obama)
Beware of Trump Alberta, learn the lesson he is providing by taking over the oil from Venezuela! Appreciate Canadian health care and all the other benefits the government provides during a crises. Trump does not help Americans during any crisis and in fact is now hindering by firing professionals that help keep Americans safe. He is now even looking at selling their National Parks to develop resorts which he vowed he would never do. Can’t be trusted. He will bankrupt the US with all his ego builds.
Danielle Smith should stay out of the negotiations. Trump is unreliable and turns on people and countries on a dime. We should use whatever resources are available in our defence and to help Canadians. It is time for strength in numbers and for ALL Canadians to unite together and create businesses with as many other countries as possible. It’s time now, the US is not acting like an ally and is forgetting what Canada has done for and with the US in all it’s history. Elbows up now and in the long term even when or if the US regains a decent government.
I think Danielle Smith doesn’t give Canadians enough credit. We understand and are not confused about the change of Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Just think what Trump would do If Alberta separates. They would be taken over by the USA immediately when they borrow the $500 billion to pay for the things that are needed to run a country….. an orange clown as their boss, no oil of their own, no health care, lower if any pension in retirement and most of its people sent to his many prison farms, if they are not shot down in the streets first. The people could make a very strong point to Canada, Ottawa, Canadians and the rest of the world, if they dropped their separation ideals and support Canada’s efforts to move away from USA. All of these leaders of the separatist movement could very well be implants by other foreign countries designed to destroy Canada as a country. Get real and be smart about all of this stupidity.
President Taco is confused with how the world works
Canadians are not confused. Danielle Smith sure is. Trump wants us to look weaker so that he “appears” stronger while making the Americans as a whole, smaller in power. Just like the Iranian War, all that bullish comedy Trump is putting on is a clown show for MAGA on how great they are but in reality, they are getting weaker every moment. So Canadians, stop being so focussed on the farts generated by Trump. It is still Lake Ontario.
We’re not confused at all. It’s Doug Ford’s big mouth.
Nah, only one confused is Smith…..guess she forgot which country she belongs to.
Not confused, just convinced that Trump is a demented tyrant with a penchant for hurting, destroying and 0gaining Canada. Or he wants a war!!
We are not confused. You may be, but we aren’t. He does it to wind people up and create the attention he craves, also diverts attention away from his mate Epstein.. Nothing more and nothing less
First, who asked a separatist premier to speak on behalf of all Canadians, especially when she’s got it wrong? There’s no confusion here… we can all see clearly that DJT is a petulant child throwing yet another tantrum because he didn’t get his way, and Ms. Smith is a boot-licking sycophant, just like all of Trump’s administration.
Danielle’s simple mind is easily confused. CANADIANS completely understand the US president’s warped, and childish behaviour… it’s an American comedy. It’s almost hard to believe but 77,000,000 idiots voted for the asshat. Danielle would have been one of those, if she was an american… not yet Danielle, not yet or ever!
We are confused as to why that Ugly Smith is still in power!! Send Trump’s Dickie Licker back to him! Melania will welcome her!
American can call anything to their liking. Not Canadian business. Google maps is an American company, if Canadians don’t like it, they are free to create a better application, program and call everything our “Canadian” way.
Stop whining about Trump all the time. Focus on Canada. I personally don’t care if Americans struggle, if they are forced to pay more for everything, I care about my life in Canada, elections have consequences, too bad most provinces have no say. We are doomed no matter who’s the president in the USA. And Carney is not going anywhere any time soon, thanks to Ontario and Quebec and those traitors who crossed the floor.
No confusion and ideally we should get back to negotiate but will things change? Not as optimistic until circumstances change in the American administration. It’s important to deal with the present but in this case this too will past and the pendulum will swing. Maybe Canadians are disappointed but so are 2 thirds of all Americans!
If we’re “stronger together”, why is Yankee Doodle Dani forcing a referendum on separation? She’s a twit and is going to be LONG GONE next election.
We’re not confused. We’re angry. Big difference, Dani. You and the UCP seem to be the only ones confused.
The only confused Canadian here is Danielle Smith…no confusion amongst REAL Canadians!
Oh, we’re not confused. We know exactly why he did it. Maybe you’re confused!
Smith is the only rational leader in Canada right now.
Doygie wants a reset after embarrassing himself yet again.
Carney and the Liberal stooges literally sabotaged trade talks because they’re Chinese Communist Party Members.
This is how trump thinks he will take over canada slowly. Next he will stop our boats from delivering our food/gas
Danielle Smith wants to extract and sell oil. Years of Liberal policies have prevented this and now we are behind the 8 ball. She has to walk a tight rope spanning being part of team Canada but also appealing to a voter base that contains some very upset constituents.
Marlaina is the only one confused here.
No confusion here, if they don’t want the olive branch give them the Charlie Kirk special
Just another daily Trump distraction from all the things he’s hiding from
We are not confused by anything Trump does Danielle. Maybe you are.
If you believe anything or support that traitor in any way, you should be ashamed. She has sold out her province and Canada to that slimy c*mmie dirt bag is the US. She has gone and ate his food, drank his booze, slept in the wh*rehouse, shes turned and Trumpian.
Your exalted PM Conman Carney refuses to convene parliament and work the problem. He instead decides EU parliament is safer and nicer to open. After all, he’s the head W E F snake, or one of them. All things W E F and Davos for him. He doesn’t care a whit about Canada or you or I.
You’re confused, Danny. They literally spelled out why multiple times – they want a vassal state. Dig your head out of Donny’s caboose, quisling
@Helga, huh?
Enough shenanigans about non matters.
Where are we at on the CORRUPT CARE scandal?
Danielle Smith is such a wiener. She would roll over for Trump in a minute
Trump has already explored smith lake, it reeks he said and wasn’t interested in renaming it.
We’re not confused lol we don’t care about that
1. She’s flip flopping her relationship with the US again. It’s a biweekly thing with her now.
2. MapQuest is proudly not changing the name and its popularity is picking up.
Traitor Yankee doodles Dani can leave Canada and never come back . You like trumps America , go live there .
What Canadians are confused about is why Yankee doodle Dani hasn’t taken American booze off the shelf. It’s also confusing why Governor smith uses the trump traitor playbook. It’s confusing, why would a premier lie to your face and say she is not anti Canadian yet she supports a 51 state. It’s almost like someone is working for trump .
Fox (faux) news
Danielle Smith is confused, Canadians are not. The Premier needs to quit thinking small and grow up. This is a job for real and not a petty political calculation, which is all she seems to do.
Hey Danielle, how come you don’t want a ballot question on the biggest drinking water source for the whole province? Or have you already spent that sweet, sweet coal money?
“We don’t understand why the Albertans would want Canada to be weaker,” commented every Canadian regarding the separatist discussions that are NOT discouraged by Danielle Smith, Premier of a province belonging to the country of Canada. Her words of support for Canada remaining strong in the face of adversity with the USA are incredibly hypocritical given her treason-like support for division within the country. She cannot have it both ways. Danielle Smith, as the leader of a province in Canada, either support the strength of the country to all persons – provincially, domestically, internationally – or resign.
Canadians are not confused they are angry.
I’m not confused. He’s a raving psychopath showing his true colors. I just hope his childish dictator behavior is recognized by some of his more intelligent following and reflected during the midterms.
Making the great lakes even greater…only cons would fall for this.
No mystery, the progressive Canadians have delusions of grandeur. TRUMP is helping them come back down to earth…
Danielle Smith turds are smarter than lib politician or voter
Danielle Smith is a Traitor. She is an American not a CANADIAN. Canadians are not confused. They are angry. Trump AKA Humpty Dumpty belongs in a Loonie bin
It is really quite simple. Canadians just don’t want to be owned by another country. Canada is a sovereign nation – period.
Carney has been Trump’s little BlATCH since before the Canadian election when he dropped the reciprocal’s on CUSMA items without announcing it.
Then he increased border security and defense spending because Trump told him to.
Then he got caught on a hot mic kissing Trumps A$$.
Then Trump bent him over on the bridge deal.
Then he scrambled to make an excellent deal and told the premiers to “blame him” after a few concessions leaked.
Then he walked away because of pressure from Pierre.
What has Trump ever given up?
Ford is an idiot. Danielle is smarter.
I find it funny how Tds says Trump is throwing a tantrum because he didn’t get his way, when he is just trolling for media attention that is given out in abundance in Canada.
He renamed it because he can.
D Channon , very well said . I agree with your comment a 100%
Confused is right. There are Canadians that thought this was funny. There are people that realize Trump is just trolling Canadians. Then there are the people running around screaming and crying, Trump is being mean.
Who is confused? Everyone is aware he is a toddler throwing a tantrum because he didn’t get what he wanted.
So shes into Gaslighting as well as two facedness!
No confusion here! DJT is an idiot and most Canadians and Albertans agree!
I guess Smith has not heard that Trump was only going to reduce his insane 50% tariff to 25%. That he does not understand our dairy quota system, and we have US farmers on it. He does not understand that he does not have the authority to change the names of international bodies of water. Trump was the one who is not negotiating in good faith. Why try to pressure Canada, and take the pressure off the US with the idea that oil and gas are not on the table.
Smith needs to start paying attention to her voters.
Dave has it right. We are not confused we are angered.
Good grief she is a twit ! Making us all look stupid by saying we are “confused” ?! We are NOT. We are very clear in our determination to thwart this detestable president, apparently without her help.
No confusion, just trump being a prat.
Danielle appeals to the magots on magot vision tv I wonder if she took her knee pads to helmet shine her idol?
What is to be confused about? The President is not getting his way when negotiating a trade deal, so, like the bully he is, he throws a tantrum. All bullies hate it when someone pushes back against their childish tactics, and his tantrum outlet is to show he has power over something- anything. So he renames a lake, because he needs to feel he still has power.
I am not confused at all.
When a narcissist like the President does this it is only for attention to help win the support he needs!
For the Prime Minister to avoid his own country and not reopen parliament to debate them he is a much bigger problem then the President is! Canadians voted for a leader and not some debutant that flies around on the taxpayer dime spouting speeches in other countries and addressing other Parliaments other than the one he was voted to represent!
That is the confusion is see that the President is doing his thing for his country but our leader is doing nothing by grandstanding to keep his voters lost in the clouds that he is the best deal maker we have and it is all the Presidents fault.
Canadians need to wake up to this reality but they won’t as the Liberals will win all the elections today due to their beliefs that the Liberals are actually doing something.
Just watch the media praise him tonight after the elections.
Cheers