Danielle Smith REJECTS calls to weaponize Alberta energy [9r0POSyYWC2]
Become a premium Juno News subscriber today and save 20%: On today’s episode of Straight Up, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joins Marc Patrone from Charlottetown, P.E.I., following meetings with Canada’s premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss the country’s response to escalating trade tensions with the United States. Smith draws a firm line against calls to weaponize Alberta’s energy sector, saying it’s a “hard no” to using oil and gas exports as leverage against America’s latest tariff threats. While some premiers have floated retaliatory measures, Smith argues that cutting off energy exports would ultimately do more harm to Canadians than Americans. “You should never lead with a threat that you can’t act on,” Smith says, warning that an energy war would devastate Alberta’s economy while risking fuel shortages in Ontario and Quebec. “The Americans have a bigger stick.” Instead, Smith says Canada should focus on strengthening relationships with American lawmakers, businesses and consumers while expanding access to new markets in Europe and Asia through pipelines and trade diversification. She also points to growing international interest in Canadian energy and infrastructure, saying the country is attracting billions of dollars in potential private investment.