Alberta’s Smith plans to escalate fight against fentanyl amid threatened U.S. tariffs

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This article was published 05/02/2025 (271 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she wants to escalate her province’s war on fentanyl.

Smith, in a statement, says she’s instructed her government to “take immediate steps” to increase police and prosecutorial resources to go after fentanyl labs, “kingpins” and dealers.

Her office did not immediately provide details or specifics. 

Smith made the comments shortly after discussing with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and her fellow premiers ways to avert looming U.S. tariffs tied to cross-border drug traffic.

The premier has been urging collaboration to address U.S. President Donald Trump’s concerns about the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and has already committed $29 million toward beefing up border security.

She will join a delegation of premiers in Washington, D.C. next week, continuing negotiating with U.S. lawmakers ahead of a new March 4 deadline for the U.S. to impose tariffs.

Smith is also calling on all federal Liberal leadership candidates and federal party leaders to agree to a national election in March in order for Canada’s government to have a strong mandate to negotiate with the U.S.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 5, 2025.