Bell: Danielle Smith Demands What Albertans Want Out of Team Canada

She is not backing down. Far from it.

She is ramping things up.

Upping the ante, telling her critics what she wants to see in a Team Canada.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith doesn’t mind getting in the face of those who have been calling her down.t

The premier’s message to her troops is crystal clear.

We’re doubling down, folks. Onward.

Donald Trump, U.S. president starting Monday, is expected to hit Canadian goods heading stateside with a 25 per cent tariff charge.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier and current Trudeau BFF Doug Ford lead the provinces and territories as a Team Canada against Trump.

But Alberta is not on the team.

This Trudeau/Ford-led Team Canada agree Ottawa may have to put a special tax on Alberta oil heading to the U.S. or block oil shipments altogether.

In much of Canada and in Parliament, Canadians choose politicians who want to cripple the oilpatch and now they want the oilpatch to save them.

Anyway, fiddling around with oil is a no-go.

Smith says No to Team Canada and this unleashes a cross-country temper tantrum, appearing to be mostly people who hate conservatives and hate Smith already.

Smith takes to social media.

You want Alberta on your Team Canada?

Well, Alberta wants some things.

That’s turning the tables.

Alberta gives far more than it gets, far more than one pipeline expansion.

And Smith and her people know something the out-of-province critics don’t know about or don’t want to know.

There are all sorts of individuals in Alberta these days asking what the province gets out of this country.

We know what we give, what do we get?

They have a hard time with the answer.

So what’s the first thing on the Smith wish list?

No Canadian government tax on oil going to the U.S.

No banning oil from going to the U.S. Stop threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers.

Start building two pipelines deep-sixed in the past, one goes west and one goes east.

Oil to Asia. Oil to Europe. Not just oil to the U.S.

Tell the world, tell Germany, tell Japan there is a business case for them to buy Canadian oil and gas.

Kill all the anti-oilpatch laws.

Then the real killer for some Canadians.

Treat Alberta taxpayers with respect and as equals.

Alberta taxpayers have been transferring HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of dollars to others in Canada over the decades, says the premier.

Respect will be a hard sell.

From the mail your scribbler has received in the past day or two, there are more than a few out-of-province souls who outright despise Alberta.

Is redneck one word or two? Just kidding.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says it is the blocking of pipelines and liquefied natural gas plants that’s forced Alberta to sell to the U.S. at a discounted price and now gives Trump the massive upper hand in making tariff threats.

The prime minister says the Conservative leader must choose between Canada and Smith.

Remind me, when is Trudeau leaving?

Trudeau also appoints a group to help him handle the upcoming tussle with Trump.

Surely there must be an Albertan among them, someone with an instantly recognizable name.

And there is.

Former Alberta premier Rachel Notley.

Don’t be embarrassed if you choke on your coffee.

The emails continue.

If the writers believe calling Smith a traitor, an enemy collaborator, an insurrectionist and a lot worse is going to cause her to do a U-turn and join the Team Canada Kumbaya, my advice is don’t waste your dough at the betting window.

Talking to several folks in the Smith universe, they do not appear the least bit fazed by all the attention and all the blowback.

To a person, they believe Smith is reflecting the will of the majority in Alberta, though some ivory tower deep thinkers may beg to differ.

One wise guy sums up the thoughts of the group, pointing to the ritzy Toronto riding of Chrystia Freeland, the prime minister’s former sidekick who wants to head up the Liberal clown show in Ottawa when her former pal Trudeau hits the exit.

“The premier may be losing support in University – Rosedale but she sure ain’t losing here, that’s for sure.”