Alberta Minister Warns Against Using Energy as Trade War Lever

Alberta Finance Minister Jason Nixon is cautioning against using energy as leverage in the trade war between Canada and the United States.

Nixon made his comments during a press conference on Thursday, where he unveiled Alberta's fiscal update. The province has seen a significant boost in natural resource revenue due to increased oil prices, with a projected budget surplus of $2 billion for 2026-27.

Nixon warned that using energy as a threat would 'cut off our nose to spite our face,' and could have a devastating impact on Canadian jobs. He noted that the pipelines transporting Alberta's oil through the US could be affected by tariffs, leading to an exponential effect.

Nixon emphasized the importance of finding a resolution to the trade dispute through negotiation, rather than resorting to aggressive tactics.