Danielle Smith Rejects Calls to Postpone Alberta Separation Referendum

Danielle Smith, the Premier of Alberta, rejected calls from NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to postpone an October 19 referendum on whether the province should remain in Canada or begin the legal process for separation. While Smith advocates for Alberta to stay in Canada, she maintains that the vote is a separate issue from the current trade war between Canada and the United States.

Regarding the trade dispute, Smith urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to double down on diplomacy to avoid further escalation, stating that Canada cannot win the dispute through force. Despite her call for diplomacy, Smith supported Carney's proposed counter-tariffs against the United States.

To mitigate the economic impact of the trade war, the Government of Alberta established an online portal and two committees to assist affected businesses. One of these committees is currently evaluating whether Alberta should follow Saskatchewan's lead by imposing a 50 per cent tax on alcohol imports from the United States.