SLOBODIAN: Notley appointment an obvious and not unexpected slight on Smith

What a weasel! On the cusp of his mercifully last days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau couldn’t resist lashing out with contempt for Alberta again.His latest move is a brazen attempt to undermine Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and every Albertan she represents. It sure doesn’t help the rest of Canada.It is so him — petty and vindictive, putting his interests (and might we safely assume envious fear of Smith’s vision and strength) over what’s best for Canada.The only thing more ridiculous than Trudeau launching an 18-member Council on Canada-US relations (CCUSR) at this point is putting former NDP premier Rachel Notley on it.Geez, just when you think Notley is finally gone, he manifests her to haunt again.The aim of the council, that’ll no doubt live well on the taxpayers’ dollars, is to safeguard Canadian interests in the face of President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian products.If the Liberals had done their jobs, we wouldn’t be in this predicament where Trump has to take strong measures to protect Americans from a porous northern border, open to illegals including terrorists and deadly drugs like fentanyl trafficked by at least 350 crime gangs in Canada.If Notley would have done her job in Alberta, her party wouldn’t have been defeated by the UCP in 2019, then again in 2023.In four years (2015 to 2019) Notley increased Alberta’s debt from $11.9 billion to $86 billion, hiked corporate taxes by 20% during an economic slowdown, increased taxes 97 times and lost 183,000 jobs.But Trudeau deems the woke, anti-energy queen of green, whose claim to fame is pushing transgender and sexual minority rights while stomping on individual freedoms, is qualified to have input in safeguarding Canada’s interests.Is Trudeau also fervently hoping this will improve the fortunes of his big Alberta cheerleader NDP leader Naheed Nenshi? Of course. That’s exactly what the devious one yearns for. Good luck with that.Following a meeting with provincial and territorial leaders, Trudeau stressed the CCUSR will help Canada respond to any US tariffs or trade barriers. Is that not what cabinet ministers and an army of overpaid bureaucrats are paid to do? Taxpayers are being double billed with the creation of the CCUSR.Trudeau also emphasized that no single region should shoulder an unfair share of any response measures. Trudeau said the federal government would “protect Canadians,” demonstrate our nation’s strength, and strive to maintain longstanding ties with the US. Apparently, the Trudeau government hopes the CCUSR will reinforce a stable, productive bilateral relationship with the U.S. by uniting leaders from diverse fields.Smith is already miles ahead paving the way on that.She outlined a Team Canada approach that opposed a proposal premiers are considering that would halt Alberta oil and gas esports to the US if the Trump tariff is imposed.“Stop threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Albertans and Canadians via an energy export tax or ban,” said Smith.Smith has already tackled the problem and will diligently continue to ease rising tensions over a possible tariff war while protecting not only Alberta, but Canada too.She appeared before millions of Americans on FOX News in December, a move that showed all Canadians aren’t reckless, woke loons.It wasn’t Notley who paved the way for good relations by meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. It was Smith who was joined by Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary and psychologist Jordan Peterson.And it won’t be Notley extending due respect and neighbourliness by attending Trump’s January 20 inauguration. But Smith will.“I want to talk to as many members of the incoming administration as I can to make sure the trading partnership stays strong and know that we're here as a friend and ally, we're here to help,” said Smith.Trudeau won’t be attending. It’s safe to presume the other 17 CCUSR members won’t be there either.But Notley, the has-been relic who led Alberta down a bad path, and the gang are going to “fix” the looming tariff disaster and strive to ease tensions.Trudeau told a big fib when he claimed no single region should be made to shoulder its share of Canada’s possible response plans.Certainly, he was emboldened by the lovefest when he hugged and embraced (making sure media cameras caught that) the gaggle of weak premiers and territorial leaders at that meeting Smith didn’t attend.The gang shamelessly piled on Smith and Alberta. That likely made Trudeau euphoric.Putting Notley on the committee likely made the vindictive one euphoric because it was another dismissive arrow slung at Smith.Whatever. Notley is irrelevant. Trudeau is irrelevant.Smith is very relevant. And she’s charging on undeterred by woke and petty failures.

SLOBODIAN: Notley appointment an obvious and not unexpected slight on Smith

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