Justin Trudeau throws down the gloves against the Premier of Alberta: he accuses Danielle Smith of siding with Donald Trump rather than with Canadians by refusing to use oil as a negotiating lever with the United States.
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• Also read: Common front of prime ministers against American tariffs… except Alberta
“I think it’s up to Ms. Smith to explain why she chose not to put Canadians first,” he said at a press conference in Windsor, a border town in southern Ontario, on Thursday. .
“I also think it’s up to Mr. Poilievre to say whether he sides with Team Canada – with all the prime ministers including the federal government – or does he side with Danielle Smith, Kevin O’Leary and obviously, Donald Trump.”
Mr. Trudeau was referring to Danielle Smith’s visit to Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence last week, accompanied by Canadian millionaire Kevin O’Leary, a Donald Trump supporter who does not mind the idea to make Canada the 51st state of the United States.
Danielle Smith did not attend in person the summit of provincial premiers held in Ottawa on Wednesday. Instead, she attended the event by videoconference from a vacation home in Panama.
At the end of the meetings, the prime ministers and Justin Trudeau agreed that any state on the table to respond to possible American tariffs. François Legault, for example, did not rule out the pricing of aluminum and electricity exported to our neighbors to the South.
During the premiers’ press conference, who were trying to present a united front, Danielle Smith issued a scathing statement against Ottawa’s strategy. She is the only one not to have signed the joint declaration published after the meeting.
“We will take all necessary measures to protect the livelihoods of Albertans from such destructive federal policies,” Smith said.
Justin Trudeau reminded Ms. Smith that the Trans Mountain pipeline, which allows more oil to be exported to Alaska, was purchased with Canadian money.
The former Minister of Finance and candidate to succeed Mr. Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland, also launched an arrow at Ms. Smith and Pierre Poilievre.
“I am a proud daughter of Peace River, Alberta. This makes me a proud Canadian. I stand in solidarity with all of Canada in the face of Donald Trump’s threats. Pierre Poilievre: will you defend Canada or side with Danielle Smith?” she wrote on her social networks.
