UPDATE: The Donald Trump inauguration event has been moved indoors due to the weather. As a result, multiple people with tickets will no longer be attending in person, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Instead, the premier will 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, and JD Vance will be sworn in as the 50th 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 since this week’s meeting between all Canadian premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
During that meeting, the provincial leaders discussed plans to counter Trump’s threat of imposing a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian goods entering 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 included 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 on 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.
Written by: Justin Goulet – Vista Radio
