Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has found herself facing intense scrutiny after audio emerged suggesting she asked officials in the US to delay trade actions that could benefit Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre’s electoral prospects in Canada.
The recorded comments, posted by journalist Courtney Theriault, featured Smith expressing her hope that the US would “put things on pause” until after the next federal election, noting that Poilievre’s positions were more in line with President Donald Trump and “the new direction of America.”
In the audio, Smith pointed to growing frustration in Canada over the prospect of new tariffs imposed by the US. She also cited how this trade dispute was influencing public support for the current government, saying that “it seems to be benefiting the Liberals right now.”
Her apparent remedy was to request the US administration postpone any tariff decisions in order to avoid further boosts to the Liberal Party.
Smith released a statement insisting that her appeals to the US were rooted in a desire to protect Alberta’s economic interests, saying that “for the last several months, I, and many of my fellow Premiers, have been working relentlessly to convince U.S. officials at all levels just how damaging threatened tariffs will be.”
She also reiterated her hope that the White House would refrain from imposing new tariffs until a new mandate is secured by a Canadian prime minister following the election.
For now, the federal Conservative Party has offered no direct repudiation of Smith’s remarks, and Poilievre has not provided a detailed response to the controversy.
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One Response
Why should they? Daniele Smith seems to be the only adult in the room.