Restricting energy exports would indeed cause a ‘national unity crisis’
Incoming American president Donald Trump has threatened “economic force” against Canada, crippling 25 per cent tariffs on all imports, and has repeatedly said that the country should be the 51st state. In response to Trump’s threats to devastate Canada, the Liberals have responded by promising to make things worse.
When asked on CTV’s Question period Sunday if Ottawa would “cut off supplies of energy” to the United States to counter the tariff threat, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly refused to dismiss the idea. “What I can tell you is everything is on the table,” she said to host Vassy Kapelos. The minister then went on at length to explain why restricting oil and gas exports is an option, raising the need for “strength and unity” because the entire economy is at risk.
In other words, to protect jobs in Quebec, Alberta must be sacrificed. The more things change …
It is for the good of the country, apparently, that the one province that Justin Trudeau’s government has, since 2015, repeatedly singled out for made in Canada “economic force,” should be the one to bear the brunt of a trade war with the Americans.
Writing on social media, Norman Spector, who served as Brian Mulroney’s chief of staff, summed up the consequences of the Liberal approach: “(T)herein lies the seeds of our country breaking apart if (Trudeau) tries once again to play wedge politics against Alberta as he’s been doing since coming to office.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith warned Monday that turning off the taps to the U.S. would, indeed, spark a “national unity crisis.” Predictably, left-wing pundits accused her of using a “threat” to “undermine” the Liberals. In fact, she is merely pointing out the inevitable.
If Trump’s across the board 25 per cent tariffs come into force, that could, according to one estimate, lead to 52,000 fewer jobs being created in Alberta alone next year.
Source: Carson Jerema: Liberals to Trump — we’ll destroy Canada for you | National Post