CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith urged the federal government to intensify diplomatic engagement with U.S. officials and avoid further escalation of the trade dispute between the two countries, while announcing provincial steps meant to shield Alberta businesses from the economic fallout.
Premier: diplomacy, not force
Speaking to reporters in Calgary, Smith said she does not believe Canada can resolve the dispute through confrontation and emphasised the need for a sustained diplomatic approach in Washington. She repeated her call for Canada to "double down" on diplomacy to head off additional trade friction.
"I don't think Canada could win the dispute through force ... it will come down to Canada being 'too friendly, kind and helpful to resist.'"
Smith made clear she opposes tariffs across the board, but said the federal government's list of proposed counter-tariffs — raised in response to new U.S. duties — is broadly aligned with the nature of the American measures that recently took effect.
Province launches supports for businesses
At the same event, Smith outlined provincial actions she says are designed to help Alberta companies weather the disruption. The government has created two committees and launched an online portal to gather reports from businesses about how the tariffs are affecting them.
- One committee will be comprised of cabinet ministers to consider provincial policy responses, including taxation measures;
- The other committee's role was described as monitoring impacts and coordinating supports;
- An online portal is now live for businesses to submit examples of harm from the tariffs.
Smith also called on fellow premiers and the federal government to take steps to protect Canadian firms, advocating for some tax reforms and reduced internal trade barriers, particularly around alcohol.
Alcohol tax idea echoes neighbouring province
Referencing Saskatchewan’s recent approach, Smith said one of the cabinet-level items for discussion will be whether Alberta should follow suit by imposing a tax on alcohol imported from the United States. Saskatchewan has introduced a 50 per cent tax on U.S. alcohol brought into that province; Smith said Alberta will examine that option as part of the cabinet committee’s work.
| Measure | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Cabinet committee | Explore tax measures (including alcohol tax) and other provincial policy responses |
| Monitoring committee | Track impacts of tariffs and co‑ordinate supports |
| Online portal | Collect business reports on tariff impacts |
Smith said she opposes tariffs on "all fronts" but described the federal countermeasures as a reasonable match to U.S. duties that took effect the previous Saturday. She did not provide details about specific tax-policy changes Alberta might adopt, saying the cabinet committee will study options.
What this means for Alberta businesses
For exporters and firms that depend on cross‑border supply chains, greater federal diplomacy could help limit further trade measures from the United States. At the same time, provincial steps such as reduced internal barriers to trade and targeted tax measures would be aimed at limiting domestic disruption.
The new provincial portal could offer Alberta businesses a direct way to report losses or interruptions, which may inform the province’s recommendations to Ottawa. Smith framed the moves as practical protections while urging Ottawa to keep pressing for a de‑escalation in Washington.
The premier’s statements come as Canada has announced its own list of retaliatory tariffs in response to U.S. duties, and provinces across the country are weighing options to blunt the economic damage to local industries.
Smith’s visit to Washington did not feature in her remarks at the Calgary news conference, and she did not outline any planned meetings with U.S. officials. Instead, she emphasised that the federal government should prioritise intensive diplomatic outreach.
As Alberta examines potential policy tools — from tax changes to easing interprovincial barriers on alcohol — business groups and industry stakeholders will be watching for details on how the provincial committees plan to translate those ideas into action. Smith said the portal will allow the province to gather concrete examples that will inform next steps.
For now, the province is signalling a two‑pronged approach: press Ottawa to pursue diplomacy in Washington, while preparing internal measures to protect Alberta companies from the immediate economic effects of the trade dispute.
