Smith, Ford remain at odds on tariffs despite message of unity at premiers' meeting

Alberta's premier is trying to assure Canadians – and Americans – that she has a strategy to address possible Trump tariffs.

Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump has threatened 25-per-cent tariffs on Canadian goods unless Canada meets NATO spending targets and beefs up border security.

They are demands Premier Danielle Smith has reiterated need to be met, and she has promised to take action in the province.

"Alberta, for our part, will not wait around. Last week, I announced we will create a $29-million fund to create new border teams," she said at a recent meeting with Toronto's business community.

Smith was in Toronto on Monday to meet with Canadian premiers to discuss possible responses to tariffs.

Despite premiers promising to stay united "to provide steady and stable leadership," Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford – who has promised retaliation against tariffs – remain at strategic odds.

"(It's) a bit of a good cop, bad cop scenario," said trade expert Eric Miller, with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. "Danielle Smith is saying, 'We can provide you with all the oil you need. Just let us do it and don't put tariffs on it.'

"And Doug Ford saying, 'There's 1.5-million homes that depend on Ontario electricity and we'll gladly put you in the dark in the middle of winter if you go after our auto sector.'"

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While Miller said the national strategy needs to be clear, he believes some "divergence" between provinces could be a good thing.

"Mr. Trump thrives on uncertainty," he explained. "This is a case where Canada is projecting some uncertainty of its own and in a potentially positive direction."

With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau facing calls to resign or call an election, others believe the current political climate in Canada may be a disadvantage.

"I think unity and appealing to the various interests that exist mutually on both sides of the border, I think that's probably going to be the best approach here," said political scientist Lori Williams, with Mount Royal University.

"It's just not going to work if we've got a bunch of different premiers giving slightly different messages and opening the way for further divisions."

Williams said retaliatory tariffs could work, but that mutual trade agreements benefitting Canada and the U.S. "make the most sense."

She said it will take a "Team Canada" approach and more unity amongst provincial leaders to avoid tariffs – if at all possible.

"To me, it looks like we're going to get the tariffs regardless," Williams said.

"It's going to have an economic impact. It's going to be bad for a while, but when it starts to get bad for Americans, the stock market starts to shift, that would be something he would listen to. So we'll see."

Twenty-five per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods could come as soon as Jan. 20.

With files from CTV News Edmonton's Chelan Skulski