Smith is not currently on Team Canada. That needs to change, says McGowan

EDMONTON – In a strongly-word letter to Premier Danielle Smith, the president of Alberta’s largest worker advocacy group says it’s time for Alberta to get off the sidelines and join the fight against Donald Trump’s attacks on Canada.

“There has never been a more urgent need for Canadian governments to speak and act with one voice,” wrote Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) president Gil McGowan in his letter to Smith. “Right now, it’s clear that you are not fully on Team Canada. For the sake of our economy and our sovereignty, that needs to change.”

In his letter, McGowan called on Smith to stop repeating Trump’s pretexts for attacking the Canadian economy.

“This isn’t about fentanyl, immigration or even a trade imbalance between the US and Canada. Repeating misinformation gives it more power.”

McGowan also called on Smith to use her public platform to make it clear that Albertans have no interest in becoming the 51st state.

“President Trump’s comments in this regard are not a joke, as you’ve suggested previously. By not forcefully and explicitly ruling out the idea of annexation, you are helping to keep the issue alive.”

More concretely, McGowan called on Smith to follow the lead of other provinces who have been using provincial government procurement policy to send a strong message to the Trump administration.

“Specifically, we urge you to immediately instruct Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) to stop buying American products. We also urge you to start the process of cancelling other government contracts with American suppliers,” wrote McGowan.

“We cannot be the only province that refuses to use non-tariff measures to respond to Trump’s attack on our economy and our sovereignty.”

Finally, McGowan urged Smith to acknowledge that Alberta has a unique and powerful tool that can be used in the fight to defend Canada from the Trump tariff attack. That tool is known as curtailment.

“Trump’s decision to impose a lower tariff on energy shows that he knows that the US is vulnerable on energy – especially when it comes to feedstock for refineries in the Midwest,” wrote McGowan.

“That gives Alberta leverage – perhaps more leverage than any other province. We urge you to use that leverage by pointing out publicly that Alberta could (and will, if necessary) curtail the export of Alberta heavy crude to refineries in the US Midwest. Mexico played hardball and got Trump to back down. We need to do the same.”

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Letter to Premier Smith: Link

MEDIA CONTACT:
Leah Hall
Acting Communications Departmental Staff, AFL
Email: communications@afl.org