Sask. Premier Moe Explains Why He Didn’t Reject Ottawa/Premiers’ Joint Statement, Unlike Alberta’s Smith

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks to reporters at the Saskatchewan legislature in Regina on Oct. 10, 2023. The Canadian Press/Heywood Yu

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he signed the joint statement between Ottawa and the premiers last week, unlike Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, because its wording didn’t conflict with his province’s position and he wasn’t aware at the time about Smith’s objections.

Smith refused to sign the statement, which covered the potential for retaliation in response to U.S. tariffs. The Alberta premier said she objects to federal officials’ continuing talk of cutting off energy exports to the United States as a possible response measure.

Moe said he also doesn’t want to see Canada slap tariffs on its own exports in a bid to apply more pressure on the United States, but said he didn’t see any wording to that effect in the joint statement issued on Jan. 15.

He added that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should have changed the wording in the statement if there was anything that Smith had taken issue with.

“It’s not an agreement; it’s the communique as to what happened in the meeting. We didn’t take opposition with that,” Moe said in a Jan. 19 interview on the Roy Green Show. “I understand where Premier Smith is coming from. I would have hoped that the prime minister would have found some [other] wording if she had an issue with the wording.”

Moe said he didn’t get to speak to Smith, given there was so little time between the end of the meeting and the start of the press conference on Jan. 15, and he only learned of Smith’s refusal to sign from the prime minister. He said he “would have volunteered” to change wording in the document to satisfy Alberta’s concerns.

Moe said he later spoke with Smith and heard about her “concern that the federal government, or some level of it, might still be considering or toying with the idea of export tariffs.” He added his province is also in “tremendous opposition” to export tariffs, which he said would “add to the pain” that U.S. tariff threats could pose to Canadians.

Joint Statement

Canada’s premiers and Trudeau met on Jan. 15 to discuss the response to the tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose on all Canadian products unless the country stops the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the United States through its border.

While most first ministers emerged from the meeting advocating for a “united” Canadian response, Smith refused to sign the final communique, saying her province could not “fully support” Ottawa’s plan unless the federal government stopped floating the idea of making energy export bans or cuts part of a possible retaliatory response.

Smith was criticized by Trudeau and some premiers, including Ontario’s Doug Ford, who said she was prioritizing her province’s interests and failing to put Canada first.

“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,” Trudeau said at a Jan. 16 press conference.

The joint statement says all levels of government will continue to strengthen border security to address Trump’s concerns, and that if Ottawa implements retaliatory measures, it would provide support to mitigate the economic impact on Canadian workers and businesses.

Ottawa has announced a $1.3 billion plan to increase border security. Both Alberta and Saskatchewan have also launched their own plans to increase security at their shared border with the United States.

Trump did not impose his threatened tariffs on the first day of his new presidential term, but said he may do so on Feb. 1.