PRESS RELEASE: Smith had a card to play against Trump’s tariffs. She folded before the hand even started.
July 22, 2026
AFL President says Premier’s refusal to use Alberta’s energy leverage against Trump is “cowardice and negligence”
CHARLOTTETOWN — Donald Trump has hit Canada with another round of tariffs this week – 50 per cent duties on a wide swath of Canadian goods, from alcohol to dairy to hockey equipment. But one thing is conspicuously absent from the list: energy.
That’s not an accident, says Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan – it’s proof that Alberta has leverage Premier Danielle Smith refuses to use.
“Trump hasn’t spared Albertans in his tariff war because he loves us, or because our premier is more effective than other premiers,” said McGowan. “It’s because we have something he wants and needs: oil. That gives us leverage. The question is whether we use that leverage to help our fellow Canadians, or whether Smith will continue sucking up to the bully instead of standing up to him.”
Trump’s latest tariffs leave oil, potash, fish, and critical minerals untouched. McGowan says that’s the clearest sign yet of where Canada’s real bargaining power lies – and where Smith has refused to use it.
“It’s long past time for us to put energy on the table,” said McGowan. “Tell a bully you’ll never fight back, and he’ll never stop.”
McGowan points to Ontario Premier, Doug Ford, as proof that a different approach is possible. When Trump last imposed tariffs on Canada, Ford moved to threaten American businesses and households with restricted electricity exports – a hardball tactic that helped bring Trump to the table.
By contrast, Smith surrendered in advance – explicitly ruling out using Alberta’s oil exports as leverage at all, even though Midwest American refineries depend almost entirely on Alberta crude. Saskatchewan’s Premier, Scott Moe, has taken the same approach with potash, despite Saskatchewan supplying nearly all of what American farmers need.
“Danielle Smith’s refusal to even consider using the power she has to help Canada and stand up to Trump isn’t pragmatism,” said McGowan. “It’s cowardice and negligence.”
“I rarely agree with Doug Ford, but this is one of those instances. His response to the new tariffs was: ‘we have to hit back.’ Exactly. Premier Smith: are you a coward or a champion?”
“Giving up your leverage before you’ve even sat down at the table is the opposite of effective bargaining,” said McGowan. “Every day Smith refuses to use Alberta’s leverage is another day Albertans and workers across this country pay the price for her cowardice. It’s time for her to leave team MAGA and join Team Canada.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Sloan Thurston
Director of Field Operations and Communications, Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL)
communications@afl.org
