UPDATE: The Donald Trump inauguration event has been moved indoors due to the weather conditions. As a result, multiple people with tickets will no longer be attending in person, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Instead, The Premier is set to attend an inauguration day event at the Canadian embassy.
Next week will start with a big day in Washington.
On Monday, January 20, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, with JD Vance sworn-in as the 50th U.S. Vice-President.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, fresh off a visit with Trump at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, is set to attend the inauguration.
Smith has been under fire as of late, especially coming off the heels of a meeting between all Canadian premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week.
During that meeting, the provincial leaders discussed plans to tackle Trump’s threat of imposing a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods going into the United States.
Trudeau and the premiers signed a joint statement on a tariff response plan, except for Smith, saying she could not agree with a tariff retaliation strategy that includes Alberta oil and gas. “Stop threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Albertans and Canadians via an energy export tax or ban,” she stated on her ‘X’ profile.
Smith referred to the meeting as “constructive” but noted, “Federal government officials continue to publicly and privately float the idea of cutting off energy supply to the U.S. and imposing export tariffs on Alberta energy and other products to the United States”.
“Until these threats cease, Alberta will not be able to fully support the federal government’s plan in dealing with the threatened tariffs.”
Smith’s full post-meeting statement can be read at the provincial government website.
On Friday, January 17, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said the country is ready to respond to Trump’s suggested tariffs.
