Sask. NDP slam Premier Scott Moe for backing Alberta premier's controversial diplomatic efforts
NDP want Moe to apologize, withdraw his support for Danielle Smith
The Saskatchewan NDP has slammed Premier Scott Moe for commending Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's advocacy in the United States on tariffs.
Sally Housser, the NDP's critic on energy, called for Moe to apologize and withdraw his support for Smith.
The NDP critic was referring to a March 8 interview that Smith had with right-wing U.S. media outlet Breitbart News.
During that interview Smith said the threat of tariffs had boosted Liberal support in the federal election campaign. the Alberta premier said she told Trump administration officials she hoped "we could put things on pause" so Canada could get through its election.
Smith also said Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's views are "very much in sync" with the Trump administration.
Housser also called for Moe to provide details on what he discussed with U.S. officials when he travelled to Washington D.C. in February.
"Did he ask [U.S. President] Donald Trump to put his thumb on the scale of our Canadian federal election? I intend to do what I can to get them an answer on that question," Housser said.
On Thursday, Moe did not address Smith's interview. Instead, he stressed the importance of changing American minds when Canada is threatened with a U.S. trade war.
Moe called Smith one of Canada's strongest advocates, and commended all premiers for doing their best to advocate and educate U.S. citizens on how integrated both countries' economies are "despite the rhetoric."
"Premier Smith — I think certainly is taking probably a similar approach that we have as well here — is using the contacts that you have, whoever they might be, to advocate and to educate on just how integrated our economy is," said Moe on Thursday.
Moe's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This week, Smith travelled to Florida to speak at an event with U.S. conservative media personality Ben Shapiro as part of a $1,500 US-a-ticket gala fundraiser for the Prager University Foundation.
It's not an accredited university but distributes educational videos and other materials designed to combat "woke themes and anti-American sentiment" in schools.
- WATCH| Danielle Smith blasts critics, defends U.S. media appearances
Smith is also scheduled to appear on a podcast hosted by Marissa Streit, the CEO of PragerU, who has previously spoken about Canada being annexed as the 51st state.
Smith passionately defended herself this week by denouncing those who would accuse her of treason, saying she's being unjustly criticized for trying to persuade American decision-makers to abandon the tariffs.
Alberta's Opposition NDP have spent weeks calling for Smith to cancel her appearance in Florida, saying the premier is using taxpayer money to raise funds for an extremist, Islamophobic organization that denies the history of American slavery
Moe said Smith's efforts to advocate and educate on the importance of the Canadian-U.S. trade relationship is important for all of Canada.
"We want that free and fair trade environment and we're going to try to make decisions to get there," Moe said.
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With files from The Canadian Press