Alberta premier skips congratulations, demands new Liberal leader call election
Posted Mar 10, 2025 8:09 am.
Last Updated Mar 10, 2025 9:24 am.
Alberta’s premier is calling for the new leader of the federal Liberal Party to call an election as soon as possible, citing the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war.
Following the news former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney would replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with 86 per cent of party members’ votes, Premier Danielle Smith took to social media with a call to action.
“At a time when we are facing unprecedented economic challenges with our largest trading partner, Canada deserves and needs a leader with a mandate from Canadians,” she wrote on X.
“New Liberal Leader [Mark Carney] needs to put Canada first and call and election immediately.”
At a time when we are facing unprecedented economic challenges with our largest trading partner, Canada deserves and needs a leader with a mandate from Canadians.
New Liberal Leader @MarkJCarney needs to put Canada first and call an election immediately.
— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) March 10, 2025
An early election call is expected to come in the coming days and weeks, after Carney is installed as prime minister.
The U.S. is set to slap a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum come Wednesday.
In response, Canada has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on $30 billion worth of U.S. imports. Carney said Sunday he plans to follow through with Trudeau’s plan.
Some tariffs on other Canadian good have been paused until April 2, at least for now.
This is the latest in a back-and-forth between the countries since Donald Trump became president six weeks ago.
Alberta premier waited seven months to call election after leadership win
Smith was in a similar situation as Carney when she won the United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership race in October 2022, having not been elected as a member of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly.
She ultimately ran in a by-election for Brooks-Medicine Hat and won with 54.5 per cent of the vote.
Smith called an election in May 2023. The UCP won with 52.6 per cent of the popular vote.
