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Premier Danielle Smith greets Prime Minister Trudeau with awkward handshake, grimace

Click to play video: 'Trudeau, Alberta’s Danielle Smith share awkward handshake ahead of health-care summit'
Trudeau, Alberta’s Danielle Smith share awkward handshake ahead of health-care summit
VIDEO: Trudeau, Alberta's Danielle Smith share awkward handshake ahead of health-care summit – Feb 7, 2023

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has met face to face with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a photo opportunity punctuated by short statements and a very awkward handshake.

Smith and Trudeau met briefly to discuss shared aspirations and concerns over pending federal legislation aimed at helping Canadian workers adapt to the global move to increasing reliance on renewable energy.

The short meeting began with Trudeau reaching down to shake hands, with Smith offering a hesitant palm down hand in return, prompting Trudeau to take it and hold it in place with his thumb on top as the cameras clicked and whirred.

Click to play video: 'Premier Danielle Smith greets Prime Minister Trudeau with awkward handshake'
Premier Danielle Smith greets Prime Minister Trudeau with awkward handshake

Smith, in Ottawa with other premiers for talks on health-care funding, faces an election this spring after successfully harnessing party anger with Trudeau to win the UCP leadership race to become premier.

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She has disparaged Trudeau’s government as not a true national government and passed controversial legislation granting her government power to direct provincial agencies to ignore federal laws.

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She has accused Trudeau of trying to decimate Alberta’s oil and gas industry with his green transition legislation, but now says she wants to at least try to work collaboratively.

Click to play video: 'PM set to meet with premiers on healthcare'
PM set to meet with premiers on healthcare

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