Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says while she doesn’t want to assume anything after her meeting with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence over the weekend, Canada needs “to be prepared” that threatened tariffs are on the way.
Smith met with the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday evening, and again at his golf club on Sunday morning. She was a guest of Canadian celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary.
“We had a friendly conversation, and I thought quite constructive,” Smith told reporters on Monday morning, adding she was also able to speak with members of the incoming U.S. administration.
Trump has said he would impose 25 per cent tariffs if Canada and Mexico don’t enact measures to tackle illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the United States.
When asked by reporters whether she was able to obtain any assurances from the president-elect on the tariffs, Smith said Canadians should be prepared for them to come into effect on Jan. 20.
WATCH | Alberta premier has seen no indication Trump will change his tariff approach:
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who spoke with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump in Florida, says she doesn’t want to prejudge what will happen around tariffs, but says she’s seen no indication Trump is ‘inclined to change his approach.’
She added that Trump’s biggest irritant is what he calls the United States’ “trade deficit” with Canada, something Smith doesn’t believe exists.
“I understand, from reading the papers, there’s 100 executive orders coming in there … I haven’t seen anything that suggests he’s changing course,” she said.
“Our job is going to be to work overtime to make sure that we start … that we can make the case for carve-outs.”
Smith was also asked about Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s appearance on CTV’s Question Period on Sunday morning, in which Joly said “everything” was on the table when asked about restricting energy exports to the U.S.
The premier said such an idea would provoke a “national unity crisis.”
“We just won’t stand for that,” she said.
Smith said there was no payment required for access to the president-elect. She added she will be attending Trump’s inauguration next week.
More to come