Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is again pushing back against Justin Trudeau over U.S.- Canada relations and possible outcomes involving national unity.
During a recent meeting of premiers, there was talk of Alberta oil being used as a bargaining chip in a potential trade war with President-elect Donald Trump that could involve a 25% tariff on Canadian goods.
There was speculation of an export tax being applied to Alberta oil.
Smith recalled what happened when an earlier Trudeau brought in the National Energy Program.
"Here’s what happened the last time a Trudeau slapped an export tax on Alberta energy," said Smith in a social media post Friday.
"Unemployment quadrupled from 3.7% to 12.4% as thousands lost their jobs — home values plummeted 30% and thousands lost their homes."
Smith, who has warned of a national unity crisis, said bankruptcies rose by over 150% — tens of thousands left the province, plunging Albertans into a years long recession.
"Cost to Alberta was between $50-$100 billion," she said.
"Our government is not going to sell out Albertans to another Trudeau export tax on energy. (Justin Trudeau's) dad crushed the lives of thousands in our province — we won’t let his son do it to our people again."
Smith was the only premier not to sign a joint communique after the premier's meeting.
She was accused by Trudeau of not putting Canada first in a potential trade war with the U.S.
He said of the situation, "Yes, premiers should be advocating for their own industries, their own communities, but they should also put their country first as every single premier except Danielle Smith did."
