Alberta Minute: Border Measures, Buy Alberta, and the Continuing Tariff Response

Alberta Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Alberta politics.

This Week In Alberta:

• Alberta will launch a "Buy Alberta" campaign, led by Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson, in response to the trade war launched by US President Donald Trump. The initiative aims to encourage Albertans to support local farmers, ranchers, and agri-food businesses by making it easier to identify Alberta-made products in stores. Sigurdson emphasized the importance of maintaining strong trade ties with the US, highlighting the mutual benefits of agricultural trade. Alberta’s agri-food exports were valued at $17.9 billion in 2023, with nearly half going to the US. The campaign is expected to launch in the coming weeks.
  
  
• Premier Danielle Smith says the Province is working on a deal to send its stock of children's pain medication to Ukraine. The opposition NDP criticized the plan, suggesting the medication could further harm vulnerable children in Ukraine. The Province had paid $70 million for the medication in 2022, during a nationwide shortage.
  
  
• Alberta ranchers are deeply concerned about the impact of potential US tariffs on their industry, with a 25% levy on beef exports threatening their bottom line. While President Trump has delayed some tariffs until April 2nd, uncertainty remains. Ranchers worry about declining commodity prices and rising costs, though some have seen increased demand for direct-to-consumer sales. Industry leaders are calling for expanded government support, improved processing capacity, and access to international markets to reduce reliance on US trade.

Last Week In Alberta:

• Premier Danielle Smith has confirmed that Alberta will continue its response to US tariffs despite recent exemptions announced by President Trump. Smith expressed concern over Trump's ongoing threats to impose additional tariffs on Canadian goods, including lumber and dairy. In response, Alberta has implemented measures such as banning future purchases of US alcoholic beverages and video lottery terminals and adjusting procurement practices to favour local and Canadian businesses. Smith also urged the US to respect the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and to engage in negotiations after Canada's upcoming (hopefully soon!) federal election.
  
  
• Scott Sinclair, MLA for Lesser Slave Lake, has been expelled from the United Conservative Party (UCP) caucus for refusing to support the 2025 provincial budget. Sinclair criticized the budget's multi-billion-dollar deficits and its focus on large cities, arguing that rural areas like his constituency were neglected. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of investment in northern Alberta infrastructure and healthcare.
  
  
• Alberta announced it will be investing $15 million over two years to enhance security along the Montana border by establishing three new vehicle inspection stations. The Province previously allocated $29 million to form an Interdiction Patrol Team (IPT), with 20 officers already in place and additional hires ongoing. New resources, including drones and patrol canines, are expected to be deployed soon, and highway maintenance workers will be trained to identify and report suspicious activity while they are on the job. In January, Alberta expanded the Critical Infrastructure Defence Regulation, granting officers authority to arrest individuals trespassing near the border. Officials say these measures will help combat crime, illegal migration, and drug trafficking.

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