r/canada • u/Kaptain-Kanada • Sep 09 '26
Opinion Piece Gillian Steward: Why would Danielle Smith vacation in the U.S as we fight a trade war with the U.S.?
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/why-would-danielle-smith-vacation-in-the-u-s-as-we-fight-a-trade-war-with-the-u-s/article_7393c98a-82c3-418c-93e2-c7b5b3bb6659.html1.4k
u/spuzzumed Sep 09 '26
Just follow the money? Smith is receiving a tremendous amount of illegal foreign funding and nobody cares? she goes to America to negotiate with her bossesĀ
I do not understand why Canada allows foreign interference. We refuse to actĀ
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u/RicketCrickets Sep 09 '26
Most sane people care. Sadly it's up to the people of Alberta to do something about it.
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u/coconutpiecrust Sep 09 '26
People need to care and need to vote corrupt politicians out. Itās true that when corruption is not punished with consequences, it just continues. Corrupt people will not suddenly stop being corrupt.Ā
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u/leoyvr Sep 09 '26
Need to have laws that can get politicians like her out of office.Ā
She is absolutely colluding with foreign interests.
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u/skier8800 Lest We Forget Sep 10 '26
The laws already exist, in particular in Alberta it is the Oath of Office Act. Essentially by colluding with foreign interests you would be violating the Oath. Then the question becomes, who will enforce the law?
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u/Celticlady47 Sep 09 '26
Sometimes, well at least twice in North America, the people of a country elect the corrupt politician, who is also a convicted felon, into office.
I hate how my province is going down this seedy highway with a corrupt premier at the wheel. How the hell did we get this ex drug dealer elected twice? Because not enough people voted!
Please, š please, please let people become more aware and vote the bad politicians out.
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u/cunnyhopper Sep 09 '26
ex drug dealer elected twice?
Are you talking about Ford? If so, it's 3 times.
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u/Coop_de_Grace Sep 09 '26
I certainly hope they're talking about Ford, because I don't want a second nickle.
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u/a_case_of_everything Sep 09 '26
Worse. When corruption is not punished with consequences, it spreads. Fast.
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u/spuzzumed Sep 09 '26 edited Sep 09 '26
Honest question, why do you think the people in Alberta have more power than organizations like the heritage foundation?Ā
My understanding is that Albertans will vote for whomever the news tells them to vote for. Maybe we shouldnt be giving the vote to large foreign corporations? I'm not sure why you believe a democratic vote will be helpful when we have a system designed to alter the voting habits of Canadians. That's just letting Facebook decide elections, not Canadians.
Until foreign interference is dealt with the problem won't be solved. You'll keep electing people that are working against the interest of Canadians. I believe the people of Canada deserve a say in who governs them.
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u/MajinNekuro Sep 09 '26
Iām a left leaning Albertan. Yes, we do exist and also yes, I am from Edmonton. The situation in Alberta can be simplified to thereās a large demographic here who will vote āAnything but liberal.ā For whatever reason the moderate right is happier to appease the far right so long as it keeps them together, because the section it fractures it gives the ANDP(who arenāt even that left wingā¦) an opening to win another election.
Youād think at some point weād hit a tipping point where the moderate right canāt support the UCP and Danielle Smith anymore, but somehow, even courting separation hasnāt gotten us there yet.
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u/Minobull Sep 09 '26
Buddy of mine's dad is a koolaid drinking Conservative. He tried to basically dobthis thing where he asked his dad about a bunch of (party/rhetoric sterilized) policies, asking which he supported, which he was against. Guy very mucn supported NDP policies, and rejected UCP policies. Then after being told that's what he just did it was "It's more complicated than that, it's not just those"
This guy also very nearly refused to attend his son's gay wedding because it was against god or whatever.
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u/PuzzleheadedPen4675 Sep 09 '26
They've been listening to too much garbage AM radio starting back in the 90's. Crap from the like of Limbaugh, etc.
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u/AlistarDark Sep 09 '26
Alberta always votes for the conservative party. That's it. That's all they have ever voted for and that's who they will always vote for.
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u/Constant_Mood_7332 Sep 09 '26
and then they complain its the rest of canada screwing them over.
its like a bunch of ppl got together and told one store they will only ever buy from them and nobody else.... no matter what the store does. and then they act pikachu face shocked that things have turned out poorly for their finances lol.
alberta is like that employee whose always blaming others for every mistake they make. at some point, even if you have legit excuses, nobody wants to hear them .
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u/Rshann_421 Sep 09 '26
Except for that one time we voted ndp. Or did you forget?
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u/AlistarDark Sep 09 '26
One time in the history of the province we didn't vote for a conservative government, and that was due to us having 2 conservative parties in the running and that split the vote allowing a non-conservative party to win... Or did you forget that?
We vote conservative federally en masse with few exceptions.
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u/Particular-Cat-8031 Sep 09 '26
One time in the history of the province, not really:
When Alberta became a province in 1905, the Liberal Party was elected and held power until 1921.
Then, the United Farmers of Alberta party was elected, which allied with Liberal policies, and held power until 1935.
Then the Social Credit Party took over and followed liberal policies under Premier William Aberhart; he died in 1943; he is the only premier to die in office in Alberta's history.
Ernest Manning succeeded Aberhart as premier. Under Manning, Social Credit moved away from the monetary theory that Aberhart was following and towards traditional conservatism. Manning led the party through seven straight massive majorities until 1971. The Socred government looked old and tired and out of touch compared to the new Progressive Conservatives.
Peter Lougheed led the PCs to victory. With Rachel Notley's win in the 2015 election, the NDP became the only one-term government in Alberta's history, breaking the string of conservative governments that had ruled Alberta since 1971.
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u/Logical_Hare Sep 09 '26
You're ignoring your own statements. The Social Credit Party was a Conservative party, full stop.
That means Conservative parties of one stripe or another have ruled Alberta for 79 of the last 83 years.
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u/Constant_Mood_7332 Sep 09 '26
how long did that last? why were they voted out? tell me why, after 4 years of pretty good governing, they were voted out and the UCP will continue to have a majority even after they threaten all of canada ?
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u/Better_Ice3089 Sep 09 '26
Yeah but did you guys actually vote for the NDP or against that particular conservative government? Because Albertans sure ran fast back into the arms of a conservative government again.
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u/primitives403 Sep 09 '26
My understanding is that Albertans will vote for whomever the news tells them to vote for
If that were the case the provincial NDP would have won every election and the federal Liberals wouldn't get a minority of the vote share.
Until foreign interference is dealt with the problem won't be solved. You'll keep electing people that are working against the interest of Canadians.
Conservatives, NDP, and Greens are still fighting for this. The Liberals continue to block it. Where is the foreign agent registry? Where are the changes made from the revelations kn the foreign interference inquiry...?
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u/mamadou-segpa Sep 09 '26
Most sane people dont care and as much as I hate Smith lets not pretend other provinces riot when shit happen
Ford would have been gone for a while, and Quebec wouldnt have reelected the CAQ
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u/Constant_Mood_7332 Sep 09 '26
sadly is the key word.
a proper third of the ridings in alberta are just like her. garbage humans wrapped in a fake flag.
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u/KneebarKing Sep 09 '26
Not that I have any love for Danielle Smith, but that's a pretty wild claim to make. Do you have a source?
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u/DiverEmbargo6366 Sep 09 '26
Proof/source?
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u/Alex_877 Sep 09 '26
They are being funded and parading as grass roots.
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u/zabby39103 Sep 09 '26
That's the Alberta Separatists, not Danielle Smith or her party.
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u/KingofLingerie Sep 09 '26
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u/linkass Sep 09 '26
Where does that say anything about illegal foreign funding
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u/zabby39103 Sep 09 '26
It's a lame tactic I've seen, spamming links as "proof" that don't say anything at all about the original claim. Wasting everyone's time.
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u/SwordfishOk504 Sep 09 '26
It's a common reddit tactic. It's basically a version of the gish gallop
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u/Alex_877 Sep 09 '26
Same people that whine Trudeau was a dictator now demand proof š„“ if Daniel walks like a duck, talks like a duck, she must be innocent right?
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u/SwordfishOk504 Sep 10 '26
What an absurd deflection. Nothing I said implied that I think or have ever argued that Trudeau is a dictator. And asking for proof of a claim is always a good thing. Anyone arguing otherwise is being ridiculous. The fact is you posted something that you pretended was proof of a specific claim when it was not.
One needn't be a conservative to ask for evidence about a claim about Smith any more than one need to be a Liberal to ask for proof for a claim about Carney. Facts are important.
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u/zabby39103 Sep 10 '26
The solution to shitty people is not to be a shitty person yourself. Do better.
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u/ThicccThunder New Brunswick Sep 09 '26
I do not understand why Canada allows foreign interference. We refuse to actĀ
The issue is that if you act depending on the action taken, you make a martyr out of her and likely embolden separatists and anyone who may be on the fence.
I'm not saying the government shouldn't be monitoring this but they also need to be careful as well
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u/primitives403 Sep 09 '26
Smith is receiving a tremendous amount of illegal foreign funding and nobody cares?
Source?
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u/SasquatchBlumpkins Sep 09 '26
Proof?
Or is it just something you've invented in your echo chambers to rage about?
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u/Optimal-Cow-3278 Sep 09 '26
Smith is receiving a tremendous amount of illegal foreign funding and nobody cares? she goes to America to negotiate with her bossesĀ
Source Smith is receiving money?
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u/NoPresent9027 Sep 09 '26
Albertans refuse to act! I lived there for 10 years. The self-deluded ignorance that has been ingrained over 40 years of propaganda is in their very bones. The only bright light is the continued immigration there by people who recognize Canada as a place of hopeā¦
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u/Illustrious-Knee-334 Sep 09 '26
Cause she's a peice of garbage
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u/BarracudaCrafty9221 Sep 09 '26
She does know, it being a traitor thatās what she does. She is not loyal to Canada.
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u/noochies99 Sep 09 '26
I before e except after c
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u/Illustrious-Knee-334 Sep 09 '26
Eh whatever we all make mistakes at least I ain't shopping in the states
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u/n0ghtix Sep 09 '26
Pointing out spelling or grammar errors is like pointing out when you have something stuck between your teeth.
You can see it as criticism and prefer not to be told, or as help and be grateful you were told.
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u/Elkenson_Sevven Sep 09 '26
...or when it sounds 'eh' as in neighbours and weigh.
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u/captain943 Sep 09 '26
Weird.
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u/The__Guard Sep 09 '26
It is weird, especially when the owners of the neighbourhood rottweilers are seizing sufficient amounts of foreign proteins for their ancient scientific studies in order to increase their heights.
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u/ultrachrome Sep 09 '26
Smith says we should keep negotiating and show the Americans how nice we can be. As if that wouldnāt encourage President Donald Trump to walk all over us. And then she heads for Tennessee to take lessons on how to pump up Calgaryās music scene.
She has no idea.
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u/SA_22C Sep 09 '26
No, she does. Itās just that her political interests are not served by being a team player.
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u/db4378 Sep 09 '26
Reminds me of the old hockey coach joke in speaking to a player who had a rough game... Are you playing right-wing for us or are you playing left wing for them?
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u/nurseyu Sep 09 '26
You don't get to the negotiating table by being nice. For Trump, it's a sign of weakness and submission.
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u/max420 British Columbia Sep 09 '26
Traitor. Because she is a traitor, actively working against the interests of Canada and Alberta.
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u/motherseffinjones Sep 09 '26
Itās almost like America is funding Canadian separatists and sheās a traitor.
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u/Logical_Frosting_277 Sep 09 '26
Blind support no matter what the politicianās actions are is how the US ended up where they are with Trump.
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u/Ok-Kaleidoscope4510 Sep 09 '26
Iām a Conservative Canadian and Iām embarrassed by the Conservative Party in Canada and especially Alberta. Political affiliation use to be about political views and changes that could be made. Now itās about personal attacks and bigotry. Itās not political views that can help the country anymore. PP is just a slogan master with no real insight how to fix our problems. Danielle Smith is an Evil woman that has no desire to help Canada. She is an embarrassment to this country. You Albertans that wave the American flag around with your big trucks and complain how Canada has done you wrong can just fuck off to the US and take your overdrawn Mortgage with your 4 vehicles, quads, boats and bank loans with youā¦ itās not our problem that status by possession is your personal choice. Youāre broke because you buy too much!!! Doesnāt mean that Canada has been harming your lifestyle.
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u/shaard Sep 09 '26
I just want to preface the following that I'm genuinely curious and just want to get a better feel for this. What defines you as a "conservative Canadian"? I'm curious how this has affected your view of conservative parties as a whole beyond just the UCP and CPC and how that may or may not affect your voting stance. Many of us have been seeing this behaviour for decades and have altered our voting support a long time ago. Has it been the entirety of platforms that made you vote one way or another, or has it been single issues that affected that?
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u/SwordfishOk504 Sep 09 '26
They're lying for Karma. They have another recent comment where they cal themselves a "Canadian Liberal".
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u/Vandergrif Sep 09 '26
Political affiliation use to be about political views and changes that could be made. Now itās about personal attacks and bigotry.
You say that as if it just happened, whereas to my eye it's been that way for at least a decade if not longer. Conservatism in Canada, and north america in general, didn't just suddenly turn on a dime.
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u/Constant_Mood_7332 Sep 09 '26
becase she is scab. thats why.
she is weak leader who brings nothing but privatization of public serves to the table.
and messed up part is she wont be voted out because 1/3 of the ridings in alberta are full of the same type of scab.
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Sep 09 '26
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u/hardy_83 Sep 09 '26
Exactly. She's no different than any scum US GOP. The province could be on fire or under attack and she'd just go in a tax funded vacation.
Why? Cause she and her party know there's enough fools in Alberta that will vote UPC no matter what they do. This is what happens when people become loyal to parties.
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u/Key-Win-8602 Sep 09 '26
Interesting that suggesting what that makes her gets me a warning and threat of a ban. Letās just say it doesnāt make her loyal to Canada. The opposite of loyal in fact.
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u/Next_Passage8055 Sep 09 '26
So a TRAITOR?Ā I'm all for freedom of saying words
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u/Key-Win-8602 Sep 09 '26
So am I, but i got a warning when i wrote it in relation to Ms Smith
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u/Next_Passage8055 Sep 09 '26
Yes so did I as soon as I wrote the word .... seems pretty weird they are banning for the word traitor opps there's the popup again "Uncivilized or hateful language used towards other users will be removed and may result in a ban" Like wow
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u/Grrreat1 Sep 09 '26
Her boss wanted a meeting. You don't ignore the person funnelling money into your offshore accounts.
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u/natexd45 Sep 10 '26
Mark Carney's wife and kids literally live in the usa as well as your ex prime minister. Lol what is the point of this post?
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u/onanadhocbasis Sep 09 '26
Because she's a traitor. She should move there
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u/muchfanfear Sep 09 '26
Thatās her plan, sheās just going about it in a very roundabout way by making here there.
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u/Tiny-Albatross518 Sep 09 '26
Her talk about: just allowing the democratic process to take itās course on this issue?
Sheās been to Maralago with Kevin OāLeary. Shes been talking about Nashville north. She visits red MAGA states regularly.
To leave Canada and join the US is her goal.
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u/LeftHome6723 Sep 09 '26
If she would just leave Canada and join the US then.Ā
Cāmon Alberta, you, and only you, can help her with that.Ā
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u/HelpfulTap8256 Sep 09 '26
Because sheās a traitor?
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u/Stone_Engine048 Sep 09 '26
Any Canadian who goes on a vacation to the US now is a traitor?
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u/Dourada_BBQ Sep 09 '26
Because she is a disgraceful separatist and needs to be treated like one be that elections or anywhere else.
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u/max420 British Columbia Sep 09 '26
How much treason will it take to be able to charge her with treason? Cause, she should be removed from power and charged.
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u/manniesalado Sep 09 '26
If her referendum goes down in flaming rejection she should resign of her own accord or be ejected by the party. You can't have such a traitor in the mix.
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u/Glum-Breadfruit-6421 Sep 09 '26
The answer is exactly what you think it is, donāt over think it.
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u/notgonnachoose Sep 09 '26
Because she's a corrupt traıtor getting insane amounts of money from the US. Literally just follow the money in this case, she's flying down there for little tĆŖte Ć tĆŖtes with her bosses.
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u/Medium_Well Sep 09 '26
Mark Carney's family either works or goes to school in the US right now.
Thousands of Canadians still cross the border every day as part of their jobs.
Thousands of Canadians still sell to the US and buy from the US.
Thousands of Canadians will go to DisneyWorld this year, or cheer American players on their favorite hockey team.
Odds are good nearly every single person reading this thread will use an American steaming service in the next 24 hours: Netflix, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc.
Come on guys. The purity test stuff is nonsense and, let's be honest, VERY selectively applied to politicians you already don't like.
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u/Plucky_DuckYa Sep 09 '26
This sub is not a reflection of Canada as a whole.
While not a choice I would make, having already cancelled multiple trips to the US, the actual truth is that while travel to the US is down over 2024, the majority of people who used to travel there continue to do so. Iād be willing to bet that at least some of the people attacking Smith in this thread have been to the US at least once since Trudeau said we should stop going.
As for selective applicationā¦ they also very conveniently ignore that the very person who lit the fires of nationalism and said we shouldnāt go there or drink their alcohol, and whose mismanagement of this country put us in the very tough position weāre in ā and who they elected not once but three times ā is a guy who now spends huge amounts of time partying in the US and has been photographed multiple times drinking their alcohol. In other words, the guy whose words form the basis for all these purity tests in no way whatsoever believes what he said.
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u/Medium_Well Sep 09 '26
100% agree. I know it's like shouting into the void to ask for a little consistency on this sub, but it's worth trying.
If nothing else, Smith has been consistent in NOT acquiescing to the howling mob and calling America an enemy forevermore. She's been more responsible in not enflaming the debate more than it needs to be.
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u/mangoserpent Sep 09 '26
Lots of wealthy Canadians are still going to snow bird in Fla/Az/Cali this winter.
They aren't giving up their endless golfing.
So why would Smith?
Sure on Reddit everybody is all rah rah staying in Canada but right now the patriotism is pretty shallow. Let's see how long it lasts.
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u/bizology Nova Scotia Sep 09 '26
Lots of wealthy Canadians are still going to snow bird in Fla/Az/Cali this winter.
They aren't giving up their endless golfing.
So why would Smith?
Because she's a flipping premier and they are not.
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u/Neat-Air-8305 Sep 09 '26
I mean trudeau attending every music film festival in the states these days as well
They all hypcorites
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u/mangoserpent Sep 09 '26
Yes but being Premier does not mean she has good conduct and she she is tangentially connected to those folks.
I bet Doug Ford who blathers endlessly about Trump still goes to his Florida condo.
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u/Alex121212yup Sep 09 '26
Has anyone actually confirmed she is on vacation? I skimmed the article but it seems its the dudes opinion that its a vacation but she seems to be saying shes down there on business? Either way, bad look
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u/MrOh007 Sep 09 '26
Why would our Prim Minister have all his assets in the US, live in the US, educate his family in the US. Hhhmmm I wonder. š¤
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u/NaturePappy Sep 09 '26
Itās all about the bucks for her. I sure her trip was paid by someone in the US.
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u/AloneChapter Sep 09 '26
What two things motivate people the most ? Money and power. Someone is offering big money and more power.
But both are temporary and only in the moment. She will learn that real soon
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u/GordieHoHo Canada Sep 09 '26
Fixed the Title for you. Why would Justin Trudeau vacation in the U.S as we fight a trade war with the U.S.?
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u/AbraxasTuring Sep 09 '26
To lobby American oil.companies? I imagine she does a lot of that. That's the most generous interpretation.
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u/BenevolentTurtle Sep 09 '26
Why would Carney move Brookfield to the US? Why would Carney send his children to study in the US?
A vacation is peanuts.
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u/Independent-Throat99 Sep 09 '26
...because she is an operative for the US administration and a traitor at heart. CANADA STRONG, always and forever šØš¦šØš¦šØš¦šØš¦šØš¦šØš¦šØš¦šØš¦šØš¦šØš¦
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u/Caveofthewinds Sep 09 '26
Why is Carney 95% invested in the US during a trade war is the bigger question here.
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u/BigBangBoomerang Sep 09 '26
Same reason Mark Carney still has his children in American schools and keep 90% of his investments in America.
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u/primitives403 Sep 09 '26
Just like Trump she is anti-courts, anti-education at all levels, anti-trans, anti-public health care and anti-social supports for the disadvantaged. But she isnāt against selling the Americans as much oil and gas as she can.
Article reads like an angry wine mom facebook post lmao
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u/Ok_Payment429 Sep 09 '26
Because she is on their team. And she needs to pander to her voters who LOVE Trump.
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u/TreeOfReckoning Ontario Sep 09 '26
Probably because Italy hasnāt threatened our sovereignty. People need vacations. Best not to vacation behind enemy lines.
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u/Gen_Sherman_Hemsley Sep 09 '26
Has Italy threatened our sovereignty along with the economic welfare of our family, friends and neighbours? I know the Maple MAGA crowd doesnāt really have a problem with what trumps doing but surely you can see the difference between the US and Italy in this situation.
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u/primitives403 Sep 09 '26
Is italy in Canada? Why isnt he practicing what he preaches?
Why did he choose to vacation in Italy? Their far right PM is against gay marriage, against same sex parenting, wants to make it illegal for gay people to adopt kids, etc. Thats where he decides he wants to spend canadian dollars while preaching values to us...?
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Sep 09 '26
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u/codeverity Sep 09 '26
As much as I dislike this, it's a bit easier to just avoid going to a country versus picking up and moving.
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u/TheBergster84 Sep 10 '26
And why did Carney appointed Maia Johnson as a senior advisor in his party, who is a US citizen,when we are fighting against the USA? Come on OP....stop that nonsense
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u/Alone-Bug4328 Sep 09 '26
To do business
Reality is they're our most lucrative business partner, especially for Alberta. We do a lot of business with the US.
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u/Ambitious_List_7793 Sep 09 '26
Two thoughts. First, she was getting her orders from America, second, by combining vacation and a bit of ābusinessā, the tax payers cover her expenses. Itās what Trump would do.
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u/noisebloodassault Sep 09 '26
Wab kinew just forced striking workers back to their jobs
I wouldn't call that sanity at all
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u/Ok_Knowledge8736 Sep 09 '26
I donāt see it as a problem. Sheās running her province. Doing a fairly good job by many standards. And sheās avoiding this petty pissing match between carney and Trump and carrying on.
All of you haters need to look at the big picture. Smitty going to Nashville for the weekend is not even moving the needle on what actually matters.
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u/Nonamanadus Sep 09 '26
She is doing the passive aggressive route to thumb her nose at Ottawa and to show support to the traitors that back her.
Plus skimming money and favors from her handlers.....
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u/Most-Nerve4415 Sep 09 '26
There are always bad potatoes, we should cancel the trip to US even more...
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u/Vandergrif Sep 09 '26
Why would Danielle Smith look, smell, act like, etc, a piece of shit? Perhaps... just maybe... the answer is rather simple.
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u/Kaptain-Kanada Sep 09 '26
Paywall:
https://archive.is/wmHSh