With Trump tariffs still on the table, Alberta premier places blame on Trudeau

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is once again taking aim at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the wake of news that 25 per cent tariffs from the new Donald Trump administration could come into effect on Feb. 1.

Smith, who herself has been criticized for not contributing to the ‘Team Canada’ approach, says this whole situation is the prime minister’s fault.

“Failure lands at the feet of Justin Trudeau who damaged the relationship with the incoming president by his antics in the first round of negotiations,” she said. “Let’s be super clear about why we find ourselves in this situation that we’re in today.”

Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning, Smith said she isn’t pleased with the way the situation has been handled so far, decrying declarations of potential retaliatory tariffs from Ottawa.

“That is what diplomacy is, you have to be able to work with both Democrats and Republicans, and you have to refrain from expressing a preference for who you’d like in the White House,” she said.

U.S. President Trump, who was sworn in for a second term on Monday, had long mused about the introduction of extensive tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods come Jan. 20, unless tangible solutions were made to issues he’s identified at America’s northern and southern borders, particularly illegal immigration and the drug trade.

Trump ultimately chose to delay that plan, instead saying — while signing a slew of executive orders — he will wait until Feb. 1.

Smith said ahead of Trump’s comments that Canada should still be prepared for tariffs, and suggested Canada focus on diplomacy and drop any further talk of retaliatory measures.

In his first comments since the news of Feb. 1 tariffs, Trudeau said his government is focused on avoiding tariffs altogether, but “everything is on the table” if that doesn’t work.

“Our response will be robust and rapid and measured, but very strong. The goal will be to get those tariffs off as quickly as possible,” Trudeau said.

Smith has been directly involved in the situation, spending time with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, visiting with governors from various states, and attending a modified inauguration celebration Monday, after ceremonies were moved inside due to cold temperatures in Washington.

She says Canada’s premiers need to take matters into their own hands.

“I think it’s incumbent upon all of the premiers to make sure that we’re making our own case — very loudly, very strongly — in order to be able to avoid tariffs,” Smith said.

Canadian consumers are expressing worry about what the introduction of 25 per cent tariffs could do for the cost of living, while industry members, like those in construction and oil and gas, are concerned about their business.

The premier says she understands, and is doing her part to make sure Albertans aren’t negatively impacted.

“I understand why people are scared, that’s part of what that reaction is, is that people are emotional, people are scared. I think it’s up to political leadership to be diplomatic and to be giving some assurance that ‘we’re working on this,'” she said. “That’s what I’m trying to do — I’m working on it, I’ll do my best, I hope it works but it’s the way that I’ve had some success in building really good friendships down here, I’m going to keep doing it.”

-With files from Logan Stein and The Canadian Press