Premier Danielle Smith's office is pushing back on criticism that in an interview earlier this month, she encouraged the U.S. to meddle in Canada's federal election by halting tariffs.
In an interview with Breitbart's Matthew Boyle earlier this month, Smith said she believes the tariff war is hurting Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives and benefiting the Liberals.
Boyle suggested in a question to the premier in the March 8 interview that a conservative leader would be a better fit with Trump.
“Before the tariff war, I would say yes. I mean, Pierre Poilievre is the name of the Conservative Party leader, and he was miles ahead of Justin Trudeau," said Smith.
"But because of what we see as unjust and unfair tariffs, it’s actually caused an increase in the support for the liberals,” said Smith. “And so that’s what I fear, is that the longer this dispute goes on, politicians posture, and it seems to be benefiting the Liberals right now.
"So I would hope that we could put things on pause is what I’ve told administration officials. Let’s just put things on pause so we can get through an election.”
In a weekend Facebook post, Smith said she and other premiers "have been working relentlessly to convince U.S. officials at all levels just how damaging threatened tariffs will be to both Canadians and Americans.
"I’ve also repeatedly asked those same officials to refrain from placing any tariffs on Canadian goods until a proper renegotiation of CUSMA (Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement) can be held following our federal election with a Prime Minister that has won a mandate from Canadians to negotiate with the U.S. President.
"Now that an election has been called I would reiterate my hope that the United States would refrain from placing tariffs on their closest ally and largest trading partner during the middle of the election."
"I, along with the vast majority of Albertans, are obviously concerned with how vulnerable and weak the Liberal Government has left our country after the last 10 years of anti-resource development policies, and I have yet to see any meaningful commitment to reverse those policies that warrants giving them a fourth consecutive mandate.
"However, that decision is ultimately up to Canadians."
Meanwhile, both federal leaders have rolled out tax cuts they say will help Canadians, especially lower- and middle-income Canadians weather a tariff war.
