The Alberta Roundup with Isaac Lamoureux - Smith Defends Meeting with Ben Shapiro

00:00:00.000 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defended her upcoming chat with The Daily Wire founder Ben

00:00:15.600 Shapiro after Alberta NDP leader Nahid Nenshi tried to claim she was meeting with a quote

00:00:21.120 extremist. The provinces also criticized the Liberals' electricity regulations,

00:00:26.160 saying that Alberta will not comply. Smith similarly disproved one of former Prime

00:00:31.520 Minister Justin Trudeau's claims when he said there was no viable business case for LNG agreements

00:00:37.180 after she struck a deal with Japan. Also on the show today, we'll be looking at two different

00:00:43.060 statements made by the provincial government. One on the premiers' meeting on tariffs, and the other

00:00:48.240 on a parliamentary budget officer report on the federal emissions cap. All that and more on the

00:00:53.420 Alberta Roundup today. I'm your host, Isaac Lamoureux. Let's get the show on the road.

00:00:58.360 So hopping into that Ben Shapiro story, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said that her fireside

00:01:03.620 chat with him will help bring Canada's message to an engaged U.S. audience as Canada bears the 0.86

00:01:09.200 economic brunt of U.S. tariffs. Alberta NDP leader Nahid Nenshi published his accusations in a release

00:01:16.000 on Monday where he referred to Shapiro as far right. A spokesperson for Smith told me that the Premier was

00:01:22.940 invited to a fireside chat with Shapiro hosted by PragerU in Florida at the end of March. Her

00:01:28.780 itinerary is not yet finalized, and this event is the only one currently scheduled for her trip to

00:01:34.280 Florida. The spokesperson said, quote, a key part of the Premier's U.S. advocacy is advancing Alberta and

00:01:41.040 Canada's message with the American people. They added that given Shapiro's millions of followers,

00:01:46.300 his strong connection with U.S. President Donald Trump, and his belief that the U.S. should lower tariffs

00:01:51.080 on Canada, the event will allow Smith to advocate for Alberta's and Canada's interests. That's right,

00:01:57.080 you may remember Shapiro saying he didn't understand the tariffs placed on Canada. Nenshi was joined by

00:02:02.380 other members of his party bashing Smith. MLA Janice Irwin reposted a post to X from an Edmonton

00:02:09.360 Muslim group claiming that Shapiro was a, quote, racist, Zionist, and Islamophobe. Shapiro is Jewish and

00:02:16.620 observes Orthodox Judaism. While the Muslim group used the term Zionist as a derogatory term for

00:02:22.980 Shapiro, the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs defined Zionism as the belief in Israel's right

00:02:29.320 to exist. The CIJA said, quote, those who call themselves anti-Zionists in effect call for the

00:02:35.960 destruction, whether by force or diplomacy, of a UN member state and of the only liberal democracy in

00:02:43.560 the Middle East. Advocating an end to the world's only Jewish state is no less than a denial of the

00:02:49.300 right of the Jewish people to self-determination. The CBC ombudsman previously deemed it fair to link

00:02:55.440 Ben Shapiro to extremists after the state broadcaster linked him to far-right extremism. The ruling came

00:03:01.280 after Shapiro defended himself publicly against the CBC. Let me know in the comments what you think about

00:03:07.300 the Alberta NDP aligning themselves with a group using this kind of language, and what you think of

00:03:13.020 Nenshi's critique of Shapiro, especially in light of his distaste for the tariffs. Now switching to a

00:03:18.320 different provincial story, Alberta's Environment Minister Rebecca Schultz and Affordability Minister

00:03:23.040 Nathan Newdorf issued a joint statement on Thursday. They wrote, quote, we will keep standing up for

00:03:28.780 Albertans and continue preparing to oppose these unconstitutional rules in court, where we fully

00:03:34.120 expect to win again. The statement followed a new report from the Alberta Electric System Operator,

00:03:40.360 which showed that the clean electricity regulations would cost Albertans $30 billion between 2024 and

00:03:46.880 2049. The report also predicts that between 2035 and 2050, electricity costs will rise an additional

00:03:53.880 35% across the board due to the regulations. The Liberals finalized the clean electricity regulations

00:04:00.920 in December 2024. The regulations set limits on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-powered

00:04:07.280 electricity generation starting in 2035 to achieve a net zero electricity grid by 2050. The system

00:04:14.840 operator concluded that the regulations threaten the reliability of Alberta's grid, increase costs,

00:04:20.400 and fail to reduce carbon emissions meaningfully. The report reads, quote, the CER sets an emission

00:04:26.340 limit which is unattainable with commercially viable technologies. For example, best-in-class natural gas

00:04:33.300 combined cycle technologies emit five to six times the CER limit. The CER as adopted fails to recognize

00:04:40.820 practical reality. It added, quote, as a result, by 2038, the CER would make Alberta's electricity

00:04:47.260 system more than 100 times less reliable than the province's supply adequacy standard. Power shortages are

00:04:53.480 predicted in the report by the mid-2030s if the regulations proceed. Albertan officials said they've

00:04:59.840 already reduced electricity emissions by 59% since 2005. They said this was done without the

00:05:06.000 regulations and that emissions will continue to decrease without federal interference. The minister

00:05:10.960 said, quote, it's clear the federal government's new regulations aren't actually about reducing

00:05:15.800 emissions. Just like with the carbon tax, the real goal is punishing businesses, provinces, and families

00:05:21.360 for using natural gas for reliable dispatchable power. The report concluded that the regulations would

00:05:26.880 result in significant risk to the grid with little to no actual benefit. The province's system operator

00:05:32.440 wrote to the Liberals during the consultation process, warning them about the regulations.

00:05:37.560 Electricity Canada also expressed profound concerns about how the regulations would endanger both

00:05:42.820 affordability and reliability nationwide. Alberta Premier Daniel Smith previously invoked the

00:05:49.040 Sovereignty Within the United Canada Act to shield the province from the electricity regulations.

00:05:53.880 The initial version of the federal regulations formerly proposed a net zero power grid by 2035.

00:06:00.460 Despite delaying the timeline to 2050, Alberta previously said it was still unconstitutional and

00:06:06.020 that any such regulations would be challenged in court. Schultz and Neudorf said it's time to reverse

00:06:11.360 course instead of continuing down the path of costly and punitive policies. They wrote, quote,

00:06:17.700 Someone must fix the mess that Ottawa has made before it's too late.

00:06:21.180 The next federal government needs to scrap these dangerous regulations and start listening to

00:06:25.840 common sense. Now hopping back to the Premier, she secured a major liquefied natural gas deal 0.97

00:06:31.780 with Japan, disproving former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's previous claim that there was no

00:06:37.060 viable business case for such agreements. Smith and Ichiro Takahara, chairman and CEO of the

00:06:43.060 Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, met on Tuesday and signed a memorandum of understanding

00:06:49.040 between their respective governments. The new agreement reaffirmed Alberta's commitment to

00:06:54.060 working with Japan to develop oil, natural gas, hydrogen, and ammonia resources.

00:06:59.460 While discussing a potential LNG deal with Germany, Trudeau had previously said that there is no

00:07:04.640 business case for such an agreement. Smith revealed that the project will move forward with implementing

00:07:09.920 carbon capture and storage technology while utilizing other emission-reducing measures.

00:07:14.680 The Alberta government expects the agreement to generate jobs for Albertans as well as attract

00:07:19.440 outside investment to Alberta. Takahara said that the deal will, quote,

00:07:23.700 further deepen its cooperative relationship with the province of Alberta and contribute to the stable

00:07:28.560 supply of energy and resources to Japan and the realization of a carbon-neutral society.

00:07:34.200 Alberta and Japan first signed a memorandum in 2017 when the organization was known as the Japan Oil,

00:07:40.360 Gas, and Metals National Corporation. It was last renewed in 2021. Bilateral trade between Alberta

00:07:47.460 and Japan totaled more than $3 billion last year, making Japan the province's third largest export

00:07:53.240 market at almost $2.7 billion, going from Alberta to Japan, nearly $1 billion of which was energy exports.

00:08:00.380 Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean said Alberta's latest commitment will allow Alberta to

00:08:05.220 supply Japan with the most ethically produced resources in the world. Jean said in a Tuesday

00:08:09.820 statement, quote, We have an opportunity to supply Japan with the most ethically produced oil and gas

00:08:15.280 on the planet to aid in their economy and shift to lower carbon electricity production while we continue

00:08:21.440 to grow our international energy export. It's the family and friends event at Shoppers Drug Mart.

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00:08:41.040 Sticking with energy, the Premier and Schultz released a joint statement after a parliamentary budget officer

00:08:46.540 analysis dropped on Wednesday, highlighting that the oil and gas emissions cap would reduce Canada's

00:08:51.880 nominal GDP by $20.5 billion by 2032, along with wiping 54,400 jobs off the map. The statement

00:09:00.900 highlighted that the PBO's report confirmed that the oil and gas emissions cap would cut oil and gas

00:09:06.040 production by 5% or over 245,000 barrels per day. Smith and Schultz wrote, quote,

00:09:12.580 Alberta is working to diversify our customer base and get more barrels to Tidewater to maximize the

00:09:17.920 value of our exports. But this policy is blatant hypocrisy at a time when Canadians are uniting on

00:09:23.460 supporting a stronger energy sector. This cap must be scrapped immediately for the good of the country.

00:09:29.180 They added, quote, The evidence is clear. The federal government's proposed emissions cap is

00:09:33.700 unconstitutional, bad for the economy, and bad for Canadians. We urge the next elected prime minister

00:09:40.140 to abandon this extreme and ideological cap. It has never been clearer that we must grow and expand

00:09:46.060 our energy sector as part of uniting Canada and ensuring a strong and independent economy.

00:09:51.780 Yeah, we'll see what our new prime minister, Mark Carney, has planned for this oil and gas cap.

00:09:56.060 What do you think him and his new environment minister have in store for us? Hopping into a quick

00:10:00.400 statement released by Smith after Canada's premiers or the Council of the Federation met and discussed the

00:10:06.240 ever-evolving tariffs situation. Smith said, quote, I will continue to pursue a primarily diplomatic

00:10:12.320 approach to dealing with U.S. and state officials, but will also continue to respond to any unjustified

00:10:18.360 U.S. tariffs in a proportional and measured way that protects Albertans' interests. She added, quote,

00:10:23.840 It is clear that the American public opinion, industry, and U.S. leaders are opposing a continued trade

00:10:29.120 dispute with Canada more and more with each passing day. We therefore need to avoid escalation,

00:10:34.520 play the long game, and focus on getting to a mutually beneficial trade resolution with our

00:10:38.960 American neighbors. Yeah, I just wanted to highlight this last story to ask you what you've thought

00:10:43.320 of Smith's diplomatic approach versus other leaders like Ontario Premier Doug Ford actively

00:10:48.520 threatening the U.S. President Donald Trump and trying to engage in economic warfare with him.

00:10:53.900 Also, now that Carney's sitting at the negotiating table, how do you think the negotiations will evolve?

00:10:59.520 Let me know in the comments. Speaking of comments, let's hop into our comment roundup.

00:11:04.520 Well, I just read through the over 300 comments on last video, which I appreciate greatly, by the

00:11:09.000 way, and some of you may have already answered the questions that I posed in this video.

00:11:14.180 For example, there was an overwhelming theme of support for how Daniel Smith has handled the

00:11:19.680 tariff negotiations that have emerged thus far. But the first comment I want to highlight was more

00:11:24.780 about the 51st state idea than the tariffs, which came from atlead9136, who said, quote,

00:11:30.620 Yeah, I don't agree with Daniel on the 51st. I hear from everyone they are all for it. Call for a

00:11:36.900 referendum if liberals win the next election. If Pierre wins, let's give him a chance at saving

00:11:42.340 Canada. But I'm totally against any more equalization payments. They don't want to help

00:11:46.900 themselves, then why should we? Yeah, so a lot to unpack there. But I like that you referenced my

00:11:51.340 referendum idea, certainly a tool Smith might have in her pocket if the liberals were victorious in the

00:11:56.820 next election. That would certainly make for interesting times. The next comment I want to

00:12:02.340 highlight comes from at Brahms Lee. China has tariffed us heavily on metals as well. Where is

00:12:07.700 the outcry towards them like the US? A little fishy, I would say. Yeah, I felt like I needed to highlight

00:12:12.720 this comment because of a lot of the rhetoric I've seen online about this very phenomenon. You're right

00:12:18.200 that China has implemented in some instances more severe tariffs on us than the United States. But it

00:12:24.040 seems as if these stories have been less popular and less prevalent than those of the United States.

00:12:29.360 Why does it seem so much more publicly acceptable to hate on the US and Trump? Is China not a bigger 0.99

00:12:35.020 threat? The last comment I'll highlight today comes from at acesofbricks-adamr5893 who said,

00:12:41.480 quote, I've never understood how leaving Canada to join the US would give Western Canadians a stronger

00:12:47.220 voice over our own governance. We would still be a small fish in an even larger pond, not to mention

00:12:53.020 that Trump's tariffs are meant to starve Canadians into submission. Since when has complying with

00:12:57.760 someone who threatens you been a good idea? Just because they promised they'll stop the abuse

00:13:02.340 once you've given them what they want. If they can't be fair and respectful now, they won't be

00:13:06.880 later either. Western Canadians would be far better off separating into our own smaller country with 0.97

00:13:11.960 strategic trade alliances and a much larger say in our own governance. The unlikely dream might be to

00:13:17.500 have Montana, Idaho and the Dakotas join us too.

The Alberta Roundup with Isaac Lamoureux - March 16, 2025

Smith Defends Meeting with Ben Shapiro

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