Across Canada in this time of crisis, there are questions about where Premier Danielle Smith’s loyalties lie.
That’s inevitable when her main political agenda is sovereignty within Canada or (in the suspicious eyes of some) outside Canada.
With the tariff fiasco looming and Smith spending so much time in the U.S. — even hobnobbing with President Donald Trump — critics wondered what she was up to. It wasn’t hard to find cries of treason on social media.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford lobbied in the U.S. and was hailed as Captain Canada. Smith was painted more like Admiral Alberta, especially when she refused to consider an export tax on oil.
Smith called for exempting oil and gas shipments to the U.S. She helped secure a tariff at 10 per cent, rather than 25; but so did all energy, including electricity.
Ford worked just as relentlessly on a side deal for the Ontario auto industry. On Wednesday, he succeeded, at least for a month, when Trump agreed to a suspension of the 25 per cent levy.
Both premiers were working hard for their own provinces — and also for their country. But in the eyes of many in the national media, they were seen very differently.
Smith had never addressed this impression fully until Wednesday, when she began a news conference on border security with a statement to the province.
She left no doubt about where she stands — with Canada, and against Trump.
Smith said: “This economic attack on our country, combined with Mr. Trump’s continued talk of using economic force to facilitate the annexation of our country, has broken trust between our two nations in a profound way. It is a betrayal of a deep and abiding friendship.
“Albertans have bonds of family and friendship and business with Americans that spread well over 100 years of shared history. We have always appreciated and shared the American ideals of entrepreneurship and free markets and civil liberties.
“Albertans, like so many Americans, also feel a strong sense of identity and are fiercely independent — as our fellow Canadians are well aware.
“But let there be no mistake. As independent as we are, Albertans are strong and loyal Canadians.
“Thousands of Albertans have lost their lives fighting alongside our fellow Canadians to secure and protect our freedoms and our country, and we will not cast those freedoms and loyalties aside in response to the threat of economic pressure from a foreign government, even a historically friendly one.
“Albertans will decide our own destiny free of coercion from any government,” she added, in the inevitable throw to the sovereignty side of the UCP base.
Other Canadians who bridle at that should be aware that the sovereignty legislation is actually called “The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act.”
That has always reminded me of the Quebec comedian’s line during the referendum era: “What Quebecers want is an independent Quebec in a strong and united Canada.”
This is a land of ambiguity. But Smith has never once said she advocates separation.
Smith also pointed out that in refusing to consider an export tax on oil and gas — or even a cut in supply to the U.S. — she’s actually protecting other Canadians.
If Trump responded in kind, she said, those hurt the most would be Ontarians and Quebecers, “who still rely on importing fuel from the United States, largely due to the cancellation of the Energy East pipeline project.”
Finally, she announced moves to end all purchasing from the U.S. by government, its agencies, school boards and municipalities. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis won’t buy any more U.S. alcohol.
She wants stores to label made-in-Canada products and avoid buying from the U.S.
Smith sure sounds like a Canadian to me.
Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Herald