The recent comments of the Prime Minister of Alberta, Danielle Smith, to the middle of the right of the media, Breitbart News, have quickly attracted the reaction of the party leaders who seek to position themselves as the best option to administer a controversial relationship with the president of the United States, Donald Trump.
During the weekend, an interview in March 8 with Breitbart made the rounds on social networks, in which Smith said that the threat of “unfair and unfair rates” had promoted liberal support.
“What I fear is that the more this dispute occurs, the position of politicians, and seems to be benefiting the liberals at this time,” said Smith.
“So I hope we can put things in pause, it is what I told the administration officials. We are going to put things in pause so that we can spend an election. We make the best person at the table argue about how they would deal with that, and I think it is Pierre Poilievre.”
Smith continued to say that “in general, the perspective that Pierre would bring would be very synchronized with, I think, with the new address in the United States. And I think we would have a great relationship during the period of time in which both are found.”
The interview took place before Mark Carney was appointed leader of the Liberal Party and before the electoral call. Sam Blacktt, Smith press secretary, He told CBC News on Sunday That any suggestion that Smith asked the United States to interfere in the Canadian elections was “offensive and false.”
During a press conference held on Monday, Stéphane Perrault, main electoral director of Canada, was asked about Smith’s comments and if he considered them electoral interference.
Perrault said that “electoral interference” was not a term used in the election law, but that there were a series of provisions in the law that can be relevant to foreign interference.
“For example, there is a disposition on undue influence by foreign entities. There are rules on spending and third -party activities,” he said. “The facts you mean do not trigger any of these.”
‘Shameful’
Speaking in Montreal on Monday, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh described the “shameful” interview.
“She is talking about taking measures to damage liberals and avoid tariffs politically, to create a political result. He should be talking about stopping tariffs to protect Canadians, to stop them completely,” said Singh.
“For me, what you are doing is very shameful. He is literally playing with people’s lives. As, this is not a game. Rates are not a game to win or lose elections. These are people who lose their jobs.”
Smith’s reporter also asked the conservative leader Pierre Poilievre about Smith’s comments that was “more aligned” with Trump’s agenda than his counterparts.
“People are free to make their own comments. I speak for myself,” said Poilievre.
“Let’s talk about my agenda. My agenda is to put Canada first to vary. There is a reason why Donald Trump wants weak liberals and out of contact in power.”
Also on Monday, journalists asked the liberal leader Mark Carney if he had talked to Trump since he assumed office, and what his government was doing to prepare for him Promise on April 2 tariffs.
“The president is waiting for the result of the elections, and … that he has a strong mandate of the Canadians,” he said. “Is that someone who is, mention Danielle Smith, who is synchronized with him?”
Alberta’s prime minister’s office, Danielle Smith, vehemently denies the accusations that he asked the United States to interfere in the Federal Canadian politics, after the comments Smith made to an American media that wave waves this weekend. Lori Williams, an associated professor at Mount Royal University, says Smith’s comments'[call] In questioning his judgment and alliances with ‘some American parties’.
It could be problematic
Lisa Young, Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary, said that Smith’s comments do not comply with the “political interference” threshold as defined by Canada’s elections, but it could still be problematic.
“[Smith] He has not really done Poilievre and conservatives do not favor here. There is an appointment that it is more favorable to work with the United States, which I think is likely to end in a liberal campaign ad at some point, “he told the Calgary Eyeopener Mondays.
While comments may not comply with the “political interference” threshold, Young said that Smith’s comments “sound like inviting a foreign country to get involved” in the elections try to influence the result.
“It is certainly not illegal. I think the question is whether it is appropriate for a provincial prime minister to do this,” he told CBC News.
In the subject Special Edition | As the federal electoral campaign begins, the panel analyzes how the policies and threats of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, against Canada, have remodel the race.
Speaking to journalists on Monday afternoon, Alberta’s NDP leader Naheed Neshi suggested that Smith “proudly” invited a foreign country to interfere with Canada’s elections, “for the benefit of his chosen candidate.”
“This goes beyond the usual incompetence of the prime minister. This is intended for antithetic behavior to democracy. The prime minister plays fast and loose with Canada,” Nenshi said.
In a statement Posted in unknown On Sunday, Smith wrote that he had been working “relentlessly” for several months “to convince US officials at all levels when harmful will be threatened tariffs for both Canadians and Americans.”
“I have also repeatedly asked those same officials who refrain from placing any tariff on Canadian goods until an adequate renegotiation of Cusma can be held after our federal elections with a prime minister who has won a mandate of Canadians to negotiate with the president of the United States,” he wrote.
