We have a letter right now from Premier Danielle Smith to Trudeau and it is strongly worded and it issues an ultimatum. If Alberta doesn’t get what it wants in four weeks, the Smith government will take Trudeau to court.
This is not our first rodeo.
Been there, done that.
The strongly worded letter, the turbo-charged keyboard, the fighting words.
There was a time, back in the day, when more than a few Alberta conservatives would quietly make fun of former premier Jason Kenney’s letters.
His strongly worded letters to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The strongly worded letters Trudeau couldn’t care less about.
Sometimes these letters would finally lead to action, like taking Trudeau to court and the prime minister losing.
But somehow it didn’t feel like winning.
Alberta remains under attack and still there are letters.
It has become a routine. It’s what Confederation looks like these days.
We have a letter right now from Premier Danielle Smith to Trudeau and it is strongly worded and it issues an ultimatum.
If Alberta doesn’t get what it wants in four weeks, the Smith government will take Trudeau to court.
Alberta has won in court twice in the past year.
Of course, it will take a literal miracle to get Trudeau to think about the premier’s do-it-or-else for more than a nanosecond.
Trudeau is in his made-for-Trudeau bubble, his sunny ways cocoon, his echo chamber where his voice alone tells him he is on the right course.
Trudeau doesn’t listen to Canadians from coast to coast to coast. He doesn’t listen to the voters in by-elections in Liberal strongholds.
He doesn’t budge when the polls tell him ugly truth after ugly truth after ugly truth.
He sure as hell is not going to listen to Albertans, let alone Alberta conservatives, let alone Smith who became premier talking up sovereignty for the province within Canada.
The man does not show he is operating from a position of weakness with Alberta.
He went to a Liberal gathering in southwest Calgary where he dissed Smith and other conservative politicians.
The Smith letter reminds Trudeau the Supreme Court of Canada found that scheme “largely unconstitutional” by sticking its nose in Alberta’s business where it does not belong.
Trudeau’s people, led by the prime minister’s green guru Steven Guilbeault did not scrap the law. They announced changes where they had been found offside by the court.
Remember Guilbeault? Smith wanted Trudeau to punt Guilbeault. He is still there.
Did Trudeau and company speak with Alberta about the Liberal changes? No.
Despite asking over and over, the province never saw the detailed changes.
They understood what that meant. There was never any intention to listen to Alberta.
No surprise, Smith in the letter tells Trudeau his changes to the law don’t fix the problem. Ottawa has to stop meddling where the Alberta government has authority.
You know the drill.
Another fight with Trudeau. This show could be a full-length series. Like Hollywood, it’s about the sequels.
Who would play Trudeau? Who would play Smith?
Back in what passes for the real world, Smith tells Trudeau to stop his “ongoing unconstitutional efforts” and invites the prime minister to “come to the table and work in good faith” with Alberta to reduce emissions and develop the oilpatch.
Er … Premier Smith … I hope you haven’t ordered the sandwiches yet.
Now … you can see it coming … the make-my-day moment.
The premier gives Trudeau four weeks to sing a new tune.
If the Trudeau government “continues to ignore our concerns” then it’s back to court for another battle.
“We will always stand up for Alberta’s economy and rights,” says Smith.
“We are ready to win again,” writes Smith.
Four weeks. Let’s take a look at the calendar. What do we see?
Trudeau’s time runs out just as Smith faces party members gathering in Red Deer to vote on her leadership of the UCP.
Will Smith announce in Red Deer she’s dropping the gloves with Trudeau?
Will this latest tussle with Trudeau get the party faithful up on their feet cheering their fearless leader rather than asking her to do more?
Will this be a sufficient serving of political red meat for party members who want in the worst way for Trudeau to get his butt kicked?
Will it really matter?
Almost everyone with a pulse in this country believes Trudeau will meet his match soon enough.
His name is Pierre Poilievre.
