National

Former chief trade negotiator says Alberta undermining Canada in U.S. tariff talks

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Jan, 2025 10:53 AM

Ottawa's former chief trade negotiator Steve Verheul says Alberta is undermining Canada's attempts to prevent the U.S. from levying damaging tariffs.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rallied most of the premiers to agree that all sectors of the Canadian economy could be deployed to fight back against U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all imports from Canada.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said that Canada should not threaten the U.S. with retaliatory tariffs or cutting off energy exports, and should focus instead on finding common ground.

Verheul says Alberta "has significantly undermined Canada's position" by breaking with the other premiers.

His comments, made at a Tuesday event held by the Toronto-based Empire Club, came before Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he had "an issue with" putting tariffs on energy exports and Quebec Premier François Legault said that should happen only with the provinces' consent.

Smith's office did not have an immediate response when asked to comment.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada Post returns to full service for domestic parcels; letters still delayed

Canada Post says it has reinstated on-time service guarantees and returned to full service levels for domestic parcels after a strike brought deliveries to a halt last year. However, it says Canadians should continue to expect delivery delays of several days beyond its service standard for transaction mail such as letters, bills and statements.

Canada Post returns to full service for domestic parcels; letters still delayed

Bank CEO worries shift to political uncertainty as mortgage risks ease

The heads of Canada's biggest banks are finally seeing risks around mortgage renewals easing, only for worries about tariffs and political uncertainty to take their place. The worry comes as incoming U.S. president Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports over what he says is concerns around border security.

Bank CEO worries shift to political uncertainty as mortgage risks ease

Police in B.C. suspect homicide after body found in fire at Surrey abandoned house

Police in Surrey say homicide investigators have taken over the case of a body found after a fire was put out at an abandoned house over the weekend. Police say the death of man whose body was found inside the house in the 9800 block 138th Street is being treated as suspicious and the homicide investigation team has taken over the investigation.

Police in B.C. suspect homicide after body found in fire at Surrey abandoned house

Crackdown on retail theft in Richmond with a 22% increase in arrests for the crime

Mounties in Richmond say a crackdown on retail theft in the city has been successful with a 22 per cent increase in arrests for the crime. RCMP officers responded to more than 17-hundred shoplifting reports in the city last year -- an increase of 25 per cent compared with 2023.

Crackdown on retail theft in Richmond with a 22% increase in arrests for the crime

Overnight shooting in Newton

Police in Surrey are investigating an overnight shooting at a home in the Newton neighbourhood. They say that shortly after one this morning, a resident on the 71-hundred block of 128th street reported coming home to find several gunshot holes in the side of their house.

Overnight shooting in Newton

With the House of Commons prorogued, some key Liberal legislation may not pass

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon granted Justin Trudeau's request Monday to prorogue Parliament until Mar. 24, suspending activities of the House of Commons while the Liberals move to replace him as both Liberal Leader and prime minister. The move means the legislative agenda will be reset once the House of Commons reconvenes in March and some key pieces of legislation for the government may die on the order paper.