Alberta Premier Danielle Smith held a media conference on Wednesday (March 5) to provide more information on how her government is responding to the tariffs.
Smith called the 25 per cent tariffs placed on all Canadian goods and the 10 per cent tariffs placed on energy products "unjustified," and "a clear breach of the North American Free Trade agreement, or CUSMA, that was signed by President Trump during his first term."
"This economic attack on our country, combined with Mr. Trump's continued talk of using economic force to facilitate the annexation of our country has broken trust between our two nations in a profound way," said Smith.
She stated that many Albertans have family, friends, and business connections with Americans, and these tariffs go against the shared ideals Albertans and Americans have held.
"We have always appreciated and shared the American ideals of entrepreneurship and free markets and civil liberties."
She went on to say that while Albertans, like Americans, are known to be fiercely independent and feel a strong sense of identity, but no matter how independent Albertans are, they are also fiercely Canadian.
"Thousands of Albertans have lost their lives fighting alongside our fellow Canadians to secure and protect our freedoms and our country. And we will not cast those freedoms and loyalties aside in response to the threat of economic pressure from a foreign government. Even a historically friendly one."
In response to the tariffs, Smith's government will be implementing a few practices.
First, the provincial government has ordered her cabinet to alter their procurement practices, so their government, agencies, school boards, crown corporations, and all municipalities purchase all needed goods and services from Canadian sources and countries that are honouring their trade agreement with Canada.
Secondly, no more American alcohol or VLTs will be purchased through the AGLC until further notice.
"We just have to drink a bit more B.C wine and Alberta craft beer and spirits."
Third, Smith is directing her government to talk to and assist Alberta grocers and other retail stores to label their Canadian-made products and ask them to stock their shelves with products made in Alberta, Canada, and countries that are honouring their trade agreement.
On top of that, the provincial government will be launching an advertising campaign spearheaded by Agriculture Minister and Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson to promote Canadian-made products, which will help Albertans access information on where products were made.
Lastly, Smith's government will be working with every other province and territory to create free trade and labour mobility agreements.
"The goal is to have no exceptions. Just free trade and free movement of Canadian workers right across our province."
With that, Premier Smith says that Alberta is sitting on a "Trump card."
"It's called Alberta energy."
Smith said that Alberta has not only one of the largest and easily accessible oil deposits in the world, but Alberta's oil reserves are larger and more accessible than the "quickly declining oil and gas reserves located in the United States."
"Whether the U.S. President wishes to admit it or not, the United States not only needs our oil and gas today, they are also going to need it more and more with each passing year, once they notice their declining domestic reserves and production are wholly insufficient to keep up with the energy demands of U.S consumers and industry."
Currently, the U.S. purchases $100 billion of highly discounted oil from Alberta, which tens of thousands of American workers turn into $300 billion worth of refined oil to be sold around the world.
"We have made a lot of Americans very wealthy. It's in both our country's best interest to double the amount of Canadian crude moving south."
Doubling the amount of crude going across the border will increase the number of jobs that will be created in Canada, as well as lowering gas prices and creating more of a Canadian and American influence around the world, said Smith.
Especially since President Trump's goal of U.S. energy dominance, which Smith says won't happen without the help of Alberta and Canada.
Smith says more oil flowing to the States is a win-win for both countries.
Until the American government reverses the tariffs, Smith says they will be looking to other countries to export our oil elsewhere, including building pipelines to the coasts to increase sales to Asia and Europe.
Smith says that once the American government is prepared to respect our country, her government will work with them again, but she needs to see a "significant attitude adjustment" from Canadian political leaders in respect to exporting Canadian energy around the world.
On top of that, Smith said that if Canada is going to make it through these tariffs successfully, we must build more pipelines, develop resources, and construct new ports.
Smith says she will not support cutting off or taxing Canadian companies on existing energy exports to the States.
She has made that decision for two reasons.
The first is that she believes it will hurt Canadians more than it will hurt Americans, should the U.S. retaliate, which Smith says they will.
Secondly, U.S. polls are showing that the tariffs placed on Canada are not popular with the American public, and Smith feels the polls will show increased American frustration as their prices to the South will increase due to the tariffs.
"We want the Americans to blame their struggles on the actual source of their problems. That being the Trump tariffs."
Smith will be heading down to the States next week to continue working to try and get the tariffs reversed.
"Our quarrels should never be with the American people. They are our friends and family."
As a result of these tariffs, Smith says that the road ahead for Canadians will be bumpy and there will be job losses, higher inflation, and large budget deficits, but Smith fully believes that Canadians will prevail and overcome this challenge.
She believes this will result in a more unified country.
To watch the full media conference, click here.