Conservative premiers Doug Ford of Ontario and Danielle Smith of Alberta are at odds over how Canada should respond to US tariffs \u2014 especially when it comes to energy exports.<\/p>\n
At a premiers\u2019 summit in Huntsville on Tuesday, Ford refused to rule out an electricity export tax, while Smith firmly said no.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don’t want to see export taxes on energy or export restrictions. It would have a devastating impact on Alberta and on Canada,\u201d Smith said at a joint press conference. \u201cThe Americans have a bigger hammer if they\u00a0cut off\u00a0<\/a>[the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline]. Not only does that harm Ontario, it also harms Quebec.\u201d<\/p>\n Ford took a different view. \u201cEverything\u2019s on the table,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see how this deal goes and we\u2019ll see what he [Trump] has to say on\u00a0August 1<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n President Donald Trump has said he will impose tariffs<\/a> of up to 50 per cent on dozens of countries, including Canada, starting Aug. 1. Prime Minister Mark Carney\u00a0downplayed the deadline<\/a>, saying Canada\u2019s focus is on getting the best deal possible, no matter how long it takes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ford, however, urged an aggressive response.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to make sure we match tariff for tariff, dollar for dollar, and hit them back as hard as we possibly can,\u201d Ford said. \u201cThere\u2019s one thing President Trump understands \u2014 it\u2019s strength. He doesn\u2019t understand or appreciate weakness. He will roll over us like a cement roller if we show an ounce of weakness. We need to send a strong message.\u201d<\/p>\n At a premiers\u2019 summit in Huntsville on Tuesday, Ford refused to rule out an electricity export tax, while Smith firmly said no. <\/p>\n Ford and Smith, along with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, signed a\u00a0Memorandum of Understanding<\/a> on Tuesday to build pipelines, rail lines and trade infrastructure aimed at reducing Canada\u2019s reliance on US markets.\u00a0<\/p>\n The premiers also called for repealing nine federal regulations they see as barriers to resource development, including Bill C-69, the tanker ban, the oil and gas emissions cap, federal carbon pricing and clean electricity rules.<\/p>\n The federal government hasn\u2019t proposed an energy export tax, but\u00a0experts say<\/a> Canada should consider one.\u00a0A 15 per cent<\/a> levy on oil and gas could match Trump\u2019s tariffs, raise billions and support workers and green investments.<\/p>\n \u2018The provinces are just bystanders\u2019<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Ford briefly introduced a 25 per<\/a> cent electricity export tax targeting Michigan, New York and Minnesota. He dropped it after Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and cars. Still, Ford says the tax could return if trade talks fail.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t have to take a back seat to anyone in the world, and we sure as heck don\u2019t have to take a back seat to President Trump,\u201d Ford added.<\/p>\n Smith, however, says using Alberta\u2019s oil as leverage in a trade fight is not an option; the province exports most of its oil to the US and she wants that trade to remain stable.<\/p>\n