Politics

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith cites U.S. Midterm Results as Support for Tariff Stance

By Jack Farrell

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the sweeping Democratic victories in the U.S. midterm elections confirm that her province’s approach to tariffs is correct. Speaking during question period in the Alberta legislature on Wednesday, Smith said, “It is a vindication of our approach when it comes to tariffs. We always have objected to tariffs. We know it hurts us. It hurts the Americans.” The Democrats took control of both houses of Congress and flipped long‑held Republican Senate seats and state‑level positions, a result seen as a rebuke of President Donald Trump and his trade policies toward partners such as Canada.

Smith said she hopes the midterm results provide an opportunity to improve Canada‑U.S. relations and highlighted her government’s efforts to build relationships across the aisle, including with California Democrat Senator Adam Schiff. Alberta has largely resisted retaliatory tariffs or trade action while encouraging diplomacy. The province briefly halted sales of U.S. liquor in 2025 and has opposed using oil and gas exports as an economic weapon.

Earlier Wednesday, her government announced a new policy to prioritize Albertan and Canadian companies for small government contracts. “We’re putting local businesses first, supporting Canadian suppliers and making sure more of our government spending helps create opportunities and jobs here at home,” Smith said in a news release. The measures apply to future contracts and existing deals will be reviewed upon renewal. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said the policy gives qualified local companies a better chance to bid on about $350 million in government spending, or five percent of procurement contracts. He noted that 95 percent of government contracts already go to Canadian companies and described the policy as a practical way to help businesses that may be struggling because of current tariffs.

Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi told reporters that the United Conservative Party government is two years too late. “We’ve been asking for this exact thing for over two years, from the day Trump was re‑elected,” Nenshi said. “Imagine the wealth you could have created and the jobs you could have created in Alberta, if you had just done it two years ago when everyone else did.” Nenshi also said the U.S. midterm results signaled voters’ fatigue with “culture war” politics, which he accused Smith of championing. He referenced a government bill tabled this week that would require post‑secondary schools to develop neutrality policies, asking, “Who exactly asked the premier for this, and what difference is it going to make to a single student?”

Smith replied that her government was only trying to counteract NDP policies and influence. “They bring in the wokeism and the cancel culture. They create a hostile environment for free speech,” she said. “We’re undoing their culture war.”