CDN NEWS | 
US NEWS 
Premier Danielle Smith to Canada — Don’t mess with Alberta oil
By Rick Bell
Dominic A. LeBlanc, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Internal Trade, speaks with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who is seen crossing her fingers, before the start of a First Ministers meeting in Charlottetown, PEI on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Photo by Tim Krochak
No! No! No!
You want to put a tax on oil going to the United States. No!
You want to reduce the flow of oil to the United States. No!
You want to stop the flow of oil to the United States. No!
What part of No don’t some people understand.
“It’s a hard No,” Premier Danielle Smith tells your scribbler Thursday in case the clear-cut, no-doubt-about-it message didn’t sink in everybody’s skulls.
On the one hand there’s Ontario Premier Doug Ford back to his role as national blowhard, saying Canada could dismantle the United States because Canada is an energy superpower with oil and potash
Ford says everything is on the table in attacking the U.S. and Canada should use every tool in the toolbox as an energy superpower.
In Alberta, NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says Smith is wrong to tell the rest of the country it’s hands off Alberta oil.
Does Nenshi believe that’s a winning message?
Then again, does Nenshi really believe a grovelling apology after having his picture taken with the Israeli ambassador makes him look like someone who wants to be premier.
In the real world, Smith says you should never threaten something that’s going to hurt you more than it’s going to hurt them.
Them are the Americans and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to hit a whole slew of Canadian goods with 50 per cent tariffs come Aug. 19.
Oil and potash is not on the list.
Smith says taxing oil to the U.S. or even turning off the taps would be devastating to Canada, including Ontario and Quebec, where they get Alberta oil delivered through the U.S. to refineries in Canada.
The Americans could cut off that supply if push came to shove.
“It’s a dumb thing to even threaten,” says Smith, adding it’s “an emotional response, not a practical policy.”
“I’m going to make sure Canada doesn’t do something that dumb. That’s why it’s a hard No.”
But the blowhards who spent last year accusing Smith of being a traitor for not agreeing to use Alberta oil as a pawn in a trade war with the U.S. figure oil is Canada’s ace in the hole.
“None of that is true. It’s punching ourselves in the face. We would be more harmed by the retaliation that would come.”
Smith brings up last year when Premier Ford threatened to tax Ontario electricity going stateside or even cut off the power heading across the border.
“The Americans doubled down on their tariffs and the threat was withdrawn by the afternoon,” says Smith.
“That’s how swiftly the Americans would respond to any threat over their energy security. It doesn’t make sense for Alberta and it doesn’t make any sense for the country.”
The premier talks about “a retaliation far worse than anything we can ever do.”
But the voices talking tough, thinking the likes of Ford will bring Trump to his knees, are out there.
These are often the same sorts who wet themselves whenever Trump refers to Canada as the 51st state and now want to use oil to attack the U.S. where they were fine with the federal Liberals beating up the oilpatch for a decade.
You want to tax Alberta oil or stop it flowing?
“If anybody does I will let them know in no uncertain terms I will be fighting it every step of the way. I’m not afraid to make my views known.”
In Alberta, Nenshi has other views.
Nenshi wishes he was at the negotiating table. Hands up. How many people want Nenshi at the negotiating table?
Forget it.
Nenshi doesn’t like Smith saying it’s a hard No to a tax on oil heading stateside.
Nenshi says the premier is just saying it for UCP supporters in Alberta but Americans will see her stance as weak.
A just-released Angus Reid poll says Smith’s approval is up seven points since June.
Nenshi says people are very angry and the proposed pipeline to the west coast won’t save her.
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi during a press conference in Calgary on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Jim Wells/Postmedia
Smith fires back.
“He seems to object to me saying a hard No. He’s going to have to be the one justifying to Albertans why they should lose their jobs, lose their livelihoods.
“If you don’t have somebody putting up a fight against dumb ideas, sometimes dumb ideas get enacted.”
She points to the 10 years of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, propped up for much of the time by the federal NDP.
The last but not least point. The national unity Team Canada keeps talking about.
If they tried to put their hands on Alberta oil, what would it say about Canada?
“It would validate what those who’ve given up on Canada would say.
“That we’re not respected. We’ve been sacrificed. They don’t care about our economic well-being.”
[email protected]
Share This:
REALITY: For B.C. Premier Horgan’s Former Top Public Servant Tells Canada to Drop the Demonization of Alberta