Alberta’s Smith wants Canada to be friendly and double down on U.S. diplomacy efforts

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Wednesday she wants to see Canada double down on diplomacy efforts with U.S. officials and avoid any further escalation of the trade war between the two countries.

Smith, speaking to reporters for the first time since trade talks fell apart Friday, said the United States has “no excuse for its behaviour” but that she doesn’t think Canada could win the dispute through “brute force.”

That means Canadian officials need to keep telling U.S. counterparts that tariffs are destructive and promise to help once they are reversed, Smith said.

“Basically, it means being more Canadian: too friendly, kind and helpful to resist.”

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A day earlier, the premier responded to Ottawa’s planned counter-tariffs with concern.

She tempered that Wednesday, saying Prime Minister Mark Carney has done a good job in tariffing many of the same products the United States targeted in the latest barrage of tariffs that kicked in Saturday.

Smith also called on her fellow premiers and the federal government to do more to protect Canadian businesses through the trade fray.

She specifically asked for tax reform measures, such as cutting capital gain taxes for reinvestment purposes and reducing internal trade barriers around alcohol.

She also called for an accelerated approval timeline for the West Coast pipeline that her government is pitching.

Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called Smith’s comments a “do-nothing” strategy.

“She thinks being nice to the Americans and hoping they come around is a strategy. It isn’t,” Nenshi said in a statement.

“What we need right now are tough decisions and action.”

Nenshi repeated his call for Alberta to take U.S. alcohol off store shelves in the province — something Smith has repeatedly brushed aside.

The premier said she has formed a cabinet committee in response to the trade war that would discuss whether to follow Saskatchewan’s reciprocal 50 per cent tax on U.S. alcohol products.

She said she prefers Moe’s approach to an outright ban on American alcohol in Alberta, noting that Canadian products aren’t banned from going south of the border.

“Maybe this is an opportunity for all provinces to look at if we’re going to match equal for equal,” Smith said.

Smith added she had formed another business advisory committee in response to the trade war and created an online portal for businesses to share how they’re being affected by the tariffs.