Kinew shrugs off Alberta premier’s no-show

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/01/2025 (239 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Wab Kinew has insisted Canada is presenting a united front against U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariff threat — even if a fellow premier was a no-show at a news conference Wednesday.

Kinew met with most of his fellow premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa to discuss how to respond to the economic threat posed by Trump, who takes office Monday.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was the only leader who did not attend Wednesday’s gathering in person or take part in the final news conference.

When asked about it at the Manitoba legislature Thursday, Kinew shrugged off her absence.

“You know, we’re still family,” he said. “Even if that one cousin doesn’t show up for holiday meals, right?” the premier said.

Kinew gave a tip of his hat to the host of the gathering, Ontario premier Doug Ford, who is the current Council of the Federation chairman, for strengthening Canada’s family ties.

“I think it was really great to spend time with my fellow premiers in this moment, where putting on a hat that says ‘Canada is Not for Sale’ all of a sudden gets a fist-bump from everybody who sees it,” Kinew said.

Ford made headlines when he unveiled a blue cap with a slogan that took a swipe at Trump, who’s talked about making Canada the 51st American state.

“It’s great to see Canadians stepping up with pride,” Kinew said.

“It’s too bad that we’re seeing the sort of, I guess, threat to our economy that is bringing that out,” the premier said.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Paul Samyn | Editor's Note

Wednesdays

A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom.

Sign up for Paul Samyn | Editor's Note

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“But I like the way that Canadians rally around the flag and that really is what I’m seeing happen.”

He said their leaders will be there for them as Trump takes office.

“One of the things that I want to say to Canadians who are watching this process unfold, and are thinking ahead to Trump’s swearing-in next week, is we’re going to be there for your jobs. We’re going to be there when it comes to helping our economy and the cost of living.”

Kinew said he and his fellow premiers will attend meetings in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter

Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.

Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.