Trump tariffs: Smith opposes blocking energy exports to U.S. but Ford wants to keep option open [Video]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, fresh off a weekend visit with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, cautioned Ottawa against blocking energy exports to the U.S. in response to Trump’s tariff threat on Monday — but Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he wants to keep the option open.

“Oil and gas is owned by the provinces, principally Alberta, and we won’t stand for that,” Smith told reporters in a virtual news conference.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, meanwhile, said Monday he wants to see Canada block exports to the United States of critical minerals like aluminum, lithium and potash in response to the tariff threat.

“So if (Trump) wants to pick a fight with Canada, we have to make sure it’s clear that it’s going to hurt Americans as well,” Singh told a news conference in Ottawa.

Ford said that while an embargo on energy and critical mineral exports to the U.S. is the last thing he wants to see, Canada shouldn’t rule out any …