Smith Warns of 'Disastrous' Consequences if Canada Cuts Off U.S. Oil Exports

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has warned that cutting off oil exports to the United States would be 'disastrous', potentially devastating the Canadian economy and causing hundreds of thousands of Albertans to lose their livelihoods. Speaking at a press conference, Smith pushed back against calls from the NDP Official Opposition to use Alberta's energy exports as leverage in the ongoing Canada-U.S. tariff dispute.

The Premier argued that imposing a 50% Canadian tariff on oil would likely be matched by the United States, hitting oil imported to Ontario and Quebec particularly hard. She also warned that refineries in the U.S. would start looking for alternative sources of heavy oil, such as Venezuela, potentially leading to Canada losing its customer base entirely.

Instead of cutting off oil exports, Smith urged Canadians and the federal government to see 'time as our friend' and wait for political conditions in the United States to shift after the November midterm elections. She also called on all premiers to end alcohol protectionism, approve the West Coast pipeline immediately, and open new markets for Canadian products.

Smith emphasized that Canada would not win the trade war through 'brute force', but rather by being smarter, more strategic, and using its reputation and relationship with the American people to have the tariffs reversed. The Premier stressed that the best path forward is to 'get back to the table as quickly as possible'.