Alberta Premier Danielle Smith met with President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday at Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Smith posted an update on social media on Sunday, including photos of her with Trump and Dragon’s Lair star Kevin O’Leary.
“We had a friendly and constructive conversation,” Smith said, “during which I emphasized the mutual importance of the U.S.-Canada energy relationship and, specifically, how hundreds of thousands of American jobs are supported by Alberta energy exports. “.
Smith added that she also spoke with several “key allies” of the incoming administration and was encouraged to hear their support for a “strong energy and security relationship with Canada.”
“The United States and Canada are proud, independent nations with one of the most important security alliances in the world,” he added, “and the largest economic partnership in history. We need to preserve our independence while growing this critical partnership for the benefit of Canadians and Americans for generations to come.
Several Canadian prime ministers, including Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, have reached out to counter Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods in recent days, leading to Trump taking office. presidency on January 20.
They have been joined by several former Canadian prime ministers, including Stephen Harper and Jean Chrétien.
In a recent interview, Chrétien said he did not take seriously Trump’s comments about Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States.
“I don’t take it seriously because I don’t think it will happen,” Chrétien said. “It is not in the interest of the United States not to have a good neighbor like Canada to the north.”
“And Mr. Trump doesn’t realize that if Canada had been part of the United States a few weeks ago, he would never have been president, because Canadians would not have voted for him,” he added.
O’Leary, who is part of a group hoping to launch a massive artificial intelligence data center in northern Alberta, also posted a photo of himself with Trump and Alberta’s premier on his X account.
O’Leary has sparked controversy by saying that the concept of the United States and Canada merging into one country is “very interesting.”
“Let me tell you why an economic union between Canada and the United States makes sense,” he said on X on January 9. “Our economies are already intertwined, so why not go further? Merging currencies and streamlining immigration are a win-win. And believe me, Canadians are willing to part with those Trudeau pesos for US dollars.”
‘Non-incumbent’: Trudeau
In an interview with Jen Psaki on MSNBC on Sunday, Prime Minister Trudeau said Trump’s bid to make Canada the 51st state is “a failure.”
“That’s not going to happen in the 51st state,” Trudeau said.
“It’s just a failure. Canadians are incredibly proud to be Canadians,” said Trudeau, who recorded the appearance while in the United States to attend former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral on Thursday.
“But now people are talking about that, instead of talking about, for example, what the impact (would be) of 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum coming into the United States, on energy, whether oil and gas or electricity.”
With files from Spencer Van Dyk of CTV and The Canadian Press
