Premier Danielle Smith, alleged traitor and quasi-separatist nation-wrecker, appears to have helped save Canada from tariffs.
Smith has been urging Ottawa to appoint a drugs and border czar — preferably an army general — to head up border security.
She figured that U.S. President Donald Trump really was focused mostly on the border and wanted extremely tough action.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau now agrees. After a phone call with Trump, he tweeted: “Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.
“I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million.
“Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”
The targeted $200 million is a huge commitment on top of the $1.3 billion already announced for border security.
Ottawa did respond to Trump’s demands but never seemed enthusiastic. Trump’s assumption that our border was as porous as the Mexican seemed insulting and plain wrong.
But Smith kept pressing tough measures, both federal and provincial, and telling the Americans about everything being done. She even invited Fox News up for some shots of the Black Hawk helicopter.
Smith seemed to spend more time in the States than at home, meeting dozens of Republican senators, governors and representatives.
Some Canadians — especially the centralist media in Ontario — found that behaviour offensive.
Smith’s political opponents said she was sucking up to Trump. She was accused of working against Ottawa and the other premiers. The word traitor was thrown around.
But Smith understood better than anyone what might move Trump. She was the first to propose the national overseer for the drug and border problem.
By Monday, Trudeau was using her word — czar — to describe the position.
That appears to be a key concession from Trudeau, right at the last minute, that turned us away from economic chaos for now.
Trudeau also said on X: “I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3-billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced co-ordination with our American partners and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl.
“Nearly 10,000 front-line personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.”
Ten thousand seems to be a magical number with Trump. Mexico’s president got a tariff pause by promising to station 10,000 troops along the border.
We’re not out of this yet. The relief is brief and Trump could yet make new demands.
But thousands of businesses that were panicking on Monday, trying desperately to secure U.S. supply before tariffs hit, at least have a reprieve to prepare for any later onslaught.
I can’t remember a more tense moment in Canada, except maybe the evening of the first separatism referendum in Quebec.
Twenty-five per cent tariffs would obviously be ruinous in a very short time.
Trump’s willingness to back off for now is encouraging in other ways. It suggests he isn’t hell-bent on taking over Canada. Perhaps his 51st state rhetoric was only part of his strategy for drugs, borders and terrorism.
After demeaning our nationhood, he negotiated state-to-state to get what he wanted. Conquerors don’t generally do that.
But Trump also said, “I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30-day period to see whether or not a final economic deal with Canada can be structured.”
That hints at more to come in his attack on economic integration.
For now, there’s national relief. Danielle Smith played a serious role in that outcome.
Even her critics should pause their other grievances (that COVID report is appalling) and give her a hand.
Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Herald