Amid calls to cancel, Premier Danielle Smith stands by plan to go to U.S. fundraiser [Video]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is defending her plan to fly to Florida to appear at an event alongside a far-right U.S. influencer who calls Canada “a silly country,” saying it is her duty to do everything she can to reach out to Americans to prevent tariffs.

Smith is to make a speaking appearance Thursday with conservative media personality Ben Shapiro at a fundraiser for PragerU amid continued calls from the Opposition NDP for her to abandon the trip.

In a fiery exchange in the house, Smith accused Opposition New Democrats of being defensive because they have done “zilch” to push back on the tariffs.

“The way you actually influence the decision on tariffs is you talk to American influencers,” said Smith, at times reading a list of elected U.S. officials and business leaders she has met with.

NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said Smith is using taxpayer money to fundraise for an extremist, Islamophobic organization that denies …