Alberta Premier Delivers Blistering Critique of Trudeau's Liberal Government at Conservative Convention
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith used the final day of the federal Conservative Party convention in Calgary to launch a comprehensive critique of what she described as a decade of damaging Liberal rule under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Speaking to a packed ballroom at Calgary's BMO Centre on Saturday, Smith focused her remarks squarely on federal policies while notably avoiding discussion of Alberta separatism and making minimal mention of Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Economic Attacks and Federal Overreach
Smith's speech centered on what she characterized as federal attacks on Alberta's economic foundation, unsustainable immigration levels, and what she termed "woke" Liberal policies established during Trudeau's tenure. The premier told Conservative delegates from across Canada that for ten years, the country had witnessed a prime minister who "did everything he could to devastate the West and drive our investment and jobs out while implementing radical activist policies that ramped up disorder and chaos."
"They were doing all they possibly could to choke off and ultimately destroy our province's energy and agriculture sectors," Smith declared to the assembled crowd. "They also led an attack on provincial jurisdiction, energy, health, education, childcare. You name it, they wanted control over it."
Endorsing Poilievre and Conservative Alternatives
The Alberta premier used her platform to strongly endorse Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as the right person to correct what she described as years of federal overreach. Smith argued that a Conservative federal government under Poilievre's leadership would reverse what she called "terrible policies" established under the former Liberal government, reform bail laws, and push ahead with new pipelines and mining projects to strengthen Canada's economy.
Smith's mention of what she described as a "left-wing activist" coalition government in Ottawa led by Trudeau and former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh drew loud boos from convention delegates, highlighting the strong anti-Trudeau sentiment present in the room.
Transgender Policies and Cultural Issues
The premier also used her convention speech to highlight Alberta's controversial transgender policies, drawing one of the loudest reactions of the afternoon when she stated that "biological men do not belong in women's sports." This declaration brought Conservative delegates to their feet in enthusiastic applause.
"Canadians recognize that the left-wing activists have gone too far," Smith asserted during her remarks, framing cultural issues as part of her broader critique of Liberal governance.
Political Analysis and Context
Political scientist Duane Bratt, a professor at Mount Royal University, characterized Smith's remarks as largely retreading familiar ground but well-tuned to a room full of federal Conservatives still carrying significant anti-Trudeau sentiment. "I was struck by — it's a year-old speech," Bratt observed. "It was a blistering attack on Justin Trudeau."
Bratt described the address as "a typical Danielle Smith speech" that effectively resonated with the Conservative base while avoiding potentially divisive topics like Alberta separatism that might have complicated her message to a national Conservative audience.
The convention appearance represents Smith's continued engagement with federal Conservative politics as she positions herself as a leading voice for Western Canadian interests within the broader national political conversation. Her decision to focus criticism on Trudeau's legacy rather than current Prime Minister Mark Carney suggests a strategic approach to federal-provincial relations that acknowledges changing political dynamics while maintaining consistent opposition to Liberal policies.
