The 2024 Canadian Politician of the Year: Danielle Smith

[Brent]

I don't know a lot about her, but I like how she stands up to Trudeau's bullying.

Throughout this past year as Canadians have suffered from the personal agendas and ineptitude of their politicians, one political figure has stood out in defining responsible and effective leadership. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is exemplifying principled governing that is serving the best interests of the country and benefiting its citizens. For her tireless efforts in advancing the country's standing both as a functioning confederation and an independent nation, Smith is "The 2024 Canadian Politician of the Year."

A principled politician

One aspect that sets her apart from many of Canada's elected representatives is that Smith is continuously demonstrating in speech and deed her creditable character. She is intellectually and politically astute. She is thoughtful and articulate, as well as reasonable and respectful in addressing thorny and contentious issues. Most impressive in this day and age of "personality politics," Smith has established she is principled both in her politics and in her approach to governing.

Smith has been described as everything from a libertarian to a populist; she identified herself in a 2023 Calgary Sun interview as a "caring conservative". In 2022, Smith won the leadership of the United Conservative Party (UCP), and the following year led them to win a majority government with a mandate to defend Albertans' economic and political interests. In November 2024, she garnered a solid 91.5 per cent approval rating in her party's leadership review. At the UCP conference she observed, "We are seeing a rise in common-sense conservative policies and principles gaining traction and momentum right across the country." In many ways, Smith is the face of that common-sense conservativism, recognized as an unabashed conservative premier who is advancing responsible fiscal policies, free markets, and individual freedom and responsibility.

We R Conservative, the grassroots group of conservative-minded individuals across the country, list a number of admirable attributes that has Smith standing out among her peers: "loves her province and country and works tirelessly to keep both strong"; "determined, doesn't back down from controversial issues, stands her ground and provides facts as to why she's doing something"; "smart, focused, mind like a trap, [with an] ability to recall information and details and present them clearly"; and "tenacious about standing up for the energy industry and province". The conservative organization also lauds that Smith is "principled and straightforward."

A nation builder

Smith is recognized throughout the country as a fierce defender of the country's oil and gas sector and Albertans' economic interests against a federal government that has as its mission the shutting down of the country's oil and gas production in favour of developing renewable energy resources. The Smith government has taken on Ottawa on a number of fronts respecting the oil and gas sector, including winning a Supreme Court of Canada decision against the federal "no more pipeline act," attacking the federal "employment transition plan" that would retrain oil and gas workers as "ill-conceived and short sighted," and launching a public relations campaign to explain the recklessness of the federal 2035 n et-zero electricity targets (something the Trudeau government has just backed away from admitting the timetable was unrealistic).

In 2024, Smith was most vocal in condemning the Trudeau Liberals for their oil and gas emissions cap policy designed to throttle down the production of oil and gas in Alberta by setting aggressive emissions targets for 2032. Smith has taken every opportunity to lash out at federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault as having a "deranged vendetta" against the oil and gas industry. Weeks ago, in response to the federal policy announcement, Smith introduced the provincial Sovereignty Act as a "constitutional shield" to "protect Alberta" against Ottawa's plans. Announcing her intention to put in place a mix of policy regulations and legislation, Smith stated, "We're fighting back with every weapon in our arsenal.... We're telling Ottawa your cap goes too far. This is not the way federal-provincial relations should be."

Even as Smith is fighting for the Canadian oil and gas sector, more significantly the Alberta premier is fighting to recast the prevalent attitudes of the country's political power structure, reconstituting the nation's model of confederation to make it fairer for all Canadians. Smith is, in effect, balancing the scales of power by challenging the Trudeau Liberals and their Laurentian-elite biases to treat all provinces equally. In an opinion piece published in the National Post, Chris Selley put it this way: "For years, it seemed like Ottawa just hoped the other provinces wouldn't notice as it gave Quebec pretty much everything it wanted, with much (though certainly not universal) agreement from wise-owl Laurentian pundits. But the other provinces did notice. And Ottawa has no answer except that some members of the federation are more equal than others."

Smith makes the further argument that this fight she has taken up will make for a stronger more economically dynamic nation. In a recent address in the Alberta Legislature, Smith was unapologetic in her attacks on the Trudeau government, "We cannot sit back and allow them to steamroll over the Constitution and we will not... We will make sure our friends, allies and trading partners have the resources they need. The world is changing their perspective on the need for energy security. I think what we have seen in the last five years is the fantasy vision of Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault that our entire economy can be powered on solar and wind and batteries has been blown out of the water. If we don't stand up now we risk so much more and that is not a risk I am willing to take."

A champion of Canada

Often at times of crisis, true leaders emerge – and, since American president-elect Donald Trump posed the threat of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, Smith has been stalwart in her presentation of the Canadian case for continued free trade between Canada and the United States.  Smith has met with American State Governors, appeared on U.S. news shows, announced a comprehensive provincial border security initiative, and in a few weeks will conduct key discussions with political offices in Washington D.C. while attending President-elect Donald Trump's Inauguration Party.

Smith has been factual in her replies to Trump's public criticisms of Canada. She emphasizes the importance of American energy security and the 4.3 million barrels of oil and gas Alberta sends daily to the U.S. She argues that millions of American jobs depend on Canadian resources, and Canadian trade contributes trillions of dollars to the American economy.  Her message to Trump was direct and sincere, "As a conservative premier in Canada, I believe we have two of the greatest countries on earth. We have fought and bled together in many wars, and built an incredible alliance and partnership. I really hope we can strengthen that partnership throughout your Presidency by securing our shared border as you've requested and partnering to protect our North American workers from unfair Chinese trade practices. Americans and Canadians will both benefit immensely from this."

Smith backed up her words by announcing a new Alberta border security patrol team to address drug smuggling, gun trafficking, and illegal crossing of the Alberta-Montana border. This Alberta action is a substantive response to Trump's criticism of the lax Canadian border services. She then took to social media and American news programs to broadcast Alberta's initiative. In a persuasive interview on Fox Business News, Smith asserted, "We have such a positive relationship with our integrated economy. We both benefit from it. So let's address the issues that are irritants and then maybe we can talk about a more constructive trade relationship." And then she gained the approval of the Fox reporters by claiming Alberta is considered the "Texas of the North."

Former Liberal MP and outspoken political pundit Dan McTeague recently assessed in a True North editorial that Smith is outmaneuvering her political peers with her proactive stance in Canadian-American relations. McTeague wrote, "While Trudeau indulges in virtue signaling and Ford in saber rattling, Danielle Smith is engaging in true statesmanship. That's something that is in short supply in our country these days.... Trump is playing chess while Justin Trudeau and Doug Ford are playing checkers. They should take note of Smith's strategy. Honey will attract more than vinegar, and if the long history of our two countries tell us anything, it's that diplomacy is more effective than idle threats."

In one of Smith's year-end interviews with the Calgary Herald, she was punchy in assessing the implosion of the Trudeau government and its implications for the country. "The only way you can solve this kind of chaos is to get a mandate. It is to have an election.... I think there's a real danger if this just drags on and on and on for months when we're right in the middle of a very serious threat from a biggest trading partner, the United States. The reason why I've had to take our argument to the Americans is I don't trust the federal government is organized enough to be able to do it."

With the leadership vacuum in Ottawa as it is, Canadians owe a debt of gratitude for the effectual stands being made by Smith. Many thanks to Smith for her efforts in 2024 and wishing her the best with her pursuits of behalf of Canadians in the new year.

https://niagaraindependent.ca/the-2024-canadian-politician-of-the-year-danielle-smith/

[Thiel]

I don't know a lot about her, but I like how she stands up to Trudeau's bullying.
 
https://niagaraindependent.ca/the-2024-canadian-politician-of-the-year-danielle-smith/

She is not a Ron Desantis, but she is the gutsiest Canadian premier.

[Brent]

She is not a Ron Desantis, but she is the gutsiest Canadian premier.

Most Canadian premiers are unimpressive. It's been that way for 25 years.

[DKG]

She is not a Ron Desantis, but she is the gutsiest Canadian premier.

The premier of Saskatchewan has the people's backs too. Ford is a tepid conservative.

[Herman]

Danielle Smith's leadership is strong and yes, it's driving the left crazy—but Danielle isn't focused on the noise. She's standing up for Alberta, like Scott Moe is for Saskatchewan protecting our energy, jobs, and future.

Meanwhile, Ottawa is rudderless with no leadership, no plan, no direction. Danielle is stepping up because Alberta can't afford to wait for Justine's failed government to act.

[Brent]

The premier of Alberta showed a lot of courage walking away from the joint comminique.

This is from Lorne Gunter of Sun News.

The Trudeau government becomes more convinced every day that Alberta oil is going to be their best weapon for fighting potential tariffs imposed on Canadian goods by the incoming Trump administration.

Alberta oil truly is an economically powerful weapon. One-quarter of all oil used in the United States comes from Canada. Not one-quarter of imported oil, but 25 per cent of all the oil, imported and domestic.

They fantasize about repeating the 1973 OPEC oil embargo which brought gasoline shortages in the U.S., long lines at gas pumps, skyrocketing prices and a slowing of the U.S. economy. At the time of the '73 embargo, OPEC controlled only slightly more of oil imports to the U.S. than Canada controls now.

The feds, apparently, are giving off every indication that Alberta will be the sacrificial goat. They keep claiming publicly that "everything is on the table." However, similar embargoes are not being contemplated on, for instance, automobile parts from Ontario, or dairy products and electricity from Quebec.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was right to walk away from Wednesday's meeting without signing the joint communique or participating in the joint news conference.

And that brings up the second reason the Trudeau Liberals are considering using Alberta oil as their battering ram: Politics.

Quebec exports enough electricity to the Americans to cause blackouts (or at least brownouts) in much of the U.S. Northeast if that supply were cut off. But the Liberals also instinctively know the economic costs to Quebec of an electricity embargo. By extension, they also know the political consequences for their party if they made Quebecers suffer for the common good of all Canadians.

Far better for Liberal fortunes in the next election to heap all the economic pain on one province that doesn't vote Liberal anyway — Alberta. Ninety per cent of Canada's oil exports to the U.S. come from Alberta.

Smith has to protect Alberta's oil and gas industry because everyone else at that table — the prime minister and the other premiers — would roll over on our energy sector to protect their own provincial economies.

And never doubt that the Liberals would just love for Alberta to be portrayed as the problem child of Confederation so they could fight the next election under the banner "Vote for us, to protect Canada from Trump, Poilievre and Alberta."

[DKG]

This is how we can build a true "Team Canada" approach—one that strengthens our economy, protects jobs, and ensures Alberta and Canada can thrive on the global stage.

1. Stop threatening livelihoods. End any talk of energy export taxes or bans that hurt tens of thousands of hardworking Albertans and Canadians.

2. Diversify markets. Immediately begin construction on the Northern Gateway and Energy East pipelines, ensuring our oil and gas can reach Europe, Asia, and even our own country.

3. Make the case for Canadian energy. Tell Germany, Japan, and the rest of the world that Canadian oil and gas is a reliable and responsible choice for energy security.

4. Repeal harmful policies. Scrap the unconstitutional production cap, the overreaching electricity regulations, and Bill C-69, which are killing jobs and investment.

5. Treat Alberta as an equal partner. Recognize the hundreds of billions of dollars Alberta taxpayers have transferred to Quebec, the Maritimes, and Ontario for decadesand respect the contributions we've made to this country.

[DKG]

Where was "Team Canada" when Northern Gateway was vetoed in 2016, losing us 525,000 barrels per day in export capacity?
Instead of addressing the court's requirements for Indigenous consultation, the federal government killed the project outright and banned tankers on the northwest coast.

Where was "Team Canada" when Energy East was cancelled in 2017?
Quebec and Ontario imposed unnecessary, duplicative reviews, creating endless regulatory uncertainty. Ottawa offered no support, and the project was lost, along with the chance to ship 1 million barrels per day to the East Coast.

Where was "Team Canada" when provinces like British Columbia blocked pipelines?
B.C. imposed unconstitutional conditions on Trans Mountain, which the courts struck down in 2019. Before that, in 2018, they tried to restrict diluted bitumen shipments, threatening Alberta's economy and delaying progress.

And where is "Team Canada" now?
Ottawa has imposed Bill C-69, the "No More Pipelines" Act, and an unconstitutional production cap. They're introducing electricity regulations that harm Alberta's competitiveness and passing laws like Bill C-59 that silence the voices supporting Alberta's energy.

[Brent]

Smith's defiant stance means Liberal election organizers will try to win votes in central Canada by making Alberta the bogeyman of Confederation. Again.

It seems pretty clear what the rest of the participants Wednesday's summit are doing, especially Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Alberta was the first government in Canada to take concrete action to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs, which is president-elect Donald Trump's ultimate goal.

It's true trade wars can take on lives of their own, but Trump didn't issue his tariff threat to protect domestic American industries. He made them to get our federal government to take border security and fraudulent immigration more seriously.

Yet at Wednesday's session, no one seemed interested in addressing Trump's real concerns. There was scant discussion of the Trudeau Liberals' border security plans, which are pathetically weak. Yet the tariffs (and all the employment and economic pain that go with them) might be avoided if Canada presented a serious, robust plan to stop illegal immigrants and drug traffickers from using Canada as a jumping off point for entry to the U.S.

Here's a suggestion: Before we head into a full-scale trade war with our largest trading partner, maybe we should try beefing up our border security, first.