In the face of tariffs, Alberta should not come first

Since before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been working the United States (U.S.) circuit. Smith ventured out to Mar-a-Lago in mid-January to unnecessarily represent Alberta ahead of the trade war Canada and the U.S. are likely headed into. She also planned to attend Trump’s inauguration before the ceremony was moved inside. While Smith claims to be advocating for Canada, it’s clear she’s putting Alberta’s industries first.

 Smith has been attempting to dissuade Trump from imposing 25 per cent tariffs by emphasizing “the mutual importance of the U.S.-Canadian energy relationship.” On top of simply threatening tariffs, he has threatened to use “economic force” to annex Canada. While Trump has not yet implemented tariffs, he has mused about signing off on them come February 1. Ultimately, it is not Smith’s place to represent Canada internationally. It’s out of place and utterly ineffective. In the end, this is harmful to Albertans and Canada as a whole. It divides us from the rest of the country and undermines our actual international representatives.

Smith’s approach overall has been to maintain friendly relations with the new American administration in an effort to save Albertan jobs. Her top priority has been to protect Alberta’s oil and gas sector from tariffs. Notably, she got the meeting with Trump with the help of Kevin O’Leary, a celebrity investor who’s expressed interest in an “economic union” between the U.S. and Canada. Canada’s federal government is currently threatening to end oil exports to the U.S. in retaliation, which would majorly affect Alberta. Smith believes that there will be a “national unity crisis” if the federal government does that. Interestingly, this “unity crisis” is already happening to an extent, but by her own hands directly.

Recently Canada’s premiers all signed a supporting statement regarding the country’s approach and possible response to the upcoming tariffs. All signed except Smith. This led Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to directly call her out for not putting the country first. Other premiers have also publicly called Smith out. There is concern that this is creating division and weakening Canada’s defense against tariffs. Smith’s desire for Alberta’s biggest industry to remain unaffected by tariffs is valid and overall not a bad thing. But while the rest of the country is coming together in response to American aggression, her placing Alberta against the country only serves to benefit the American government. Especially when other provinces are willing to make sacrifices and do their part to fight American aggression. 

Since she became premier of Alberta, one of Smith’s main goals has been achieving provincial autonomy, most obviously in the passage of the Sovereignty Act. While for a time her fight on Ottawa wasn’t overtly harmful to the rest of the country, her current inability to co-operate as a nation will be. If she gets her way and Alberta’s oil industry is protected, other provinces’ industries will likely still suffer. Alberta will end up watching the rest of the country struggle, a sure way to divide the province from Canada further. 

While Alberta does have separatist sentiments and there have been public displays of support for Alberta to join the U.S. as the 51st state, it can be said those in support are a screaming minority. As of 2023, only 22 per cent of Albertans were in support of separatism. Additionally, the majority of Albertans think of themselves as Canadians first. It would seem she has a misconstrued idea of what Albertans actually want. Likely, most Albertans would agree to put the country’s best interest before Alberta’s oil industry. Smith playing buddy with Trump and opposing the rest of the country only represents a minority of Albertans.

Smith’s current approach is going to harm Canada as a whole. Her deciding to be an international representative for her own interests divides us from the rest of the country. It looks especially bad alongside her consistent “Alberta first” approach. If Smith is the only premier unwilling to make sacrifices, this will almost certainly foster nationwide resentment for Alberta. It is simply selfish and will only widen the divide between Alberta and the rest of Canada.