Alberta premier disappointed Justin Trudeau did not call a federal election

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says it's "irresponsible and selfish" for resigning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to delay calling a federal election, and that it's now up to Canada's premiers to advocate for the country in U.S. trade negotiations.

Following Trudeau's Monday morning announcement that he would step aside as prime minister and party leader after the federal Liberals select his replacement, Smith said on social media that federal Liberals are putting political interests before Canadians.

"It is one of the most irresponsible and selfish acts of a government in Canadian history," Smith wrote of Trudeau's decision to prorogue Parliament until March 24 while the party holds a leadership race.

At a news conference Monday afternoon in Calgary, Smith said she was "disappointed" Trudeau didn't immediately call an election as Canada faces the spectre of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports when he takes office in two weeks.

Smith worries that such tariffs on Alberta's oil and gas products would be economically devastating on both sides of the international border.

"We've got a lame-duck leader with no immediate plans to leave, with no resolution to who is going to be the bargaining partner," Smith said.

A federal election would resolve that uncertainty more rapidly, she said. Later, Smith said on Power and Politics that an immediate federal election could give Canada a leader with a four-year mandate by mid-February and allow the government to refocus attention on relations with the U.S.

Watch | Smith reacts to Trudeau's announcement

Smith says she wanted Trudeau to call an election

2 days ago

Duration 0:44

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump coming into office, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should have called an election so that Canada would have a leader with a four-year mandate in place in order to have a 'strong voice at the table in negotiations.'

Until there is an election, Smith says it's up to premiers like her to persuade Americans they need Canadian crude oil products to meet their own energy demands and continue to profit from the export of refined petroleum.

"That's what I do when I go on the Internet, when I go on U.S. media, is I talk in terms of what's good for Canada," said Smith, who leads Alberta's United Conservative Party.

Calgary Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Deborah Yedlin said Canada needs stable and unified leadership as soon as possible to prevent economic harm.

"This is absolutely a crucial moment for Canada," she said in an interview. "We have a change in government in two weeks south of the border. We have a very serious economic threat to Canada as a result of that change in government, which is something that we need a strong voice and a strong government to respond to."

Yedlin says the premiers must put "country first, party second" and present a unified front as they negotiate with the incoming Trump administration in the U.S.

Speaking on CBC's Alberta At Noon, Calgary Skyview Liberal MP George Chahal defended the party's plans to hold a leadership race. 

"This is a way for our party to show that we are changing and that we are going to bring forward new ideas as our nation can continue to be the greatest country in the world," Chahal said.

Observers question why departure took so long

Calgary-based pollster Janet Brown said with the pressure that lingered for months on Trudeau to go, the federal Liberals should question how their party leader could "get so entrenched, and leave at a time when their party's at such a precarious situation, and the country's at such a precarious situation."

Also speaking on Alberta at Noon, Brown said the Liberal Party may have to change timelines in its bylaws to have a new leader in place by the time Parliament resumes on March 24.

Albertans who spoke to CBC News on Monday said they were glad to see Trudeau promise to step aside.

"I hope to see somebody that will take care of the people more than what Trudeau has," said Leona Lunn, in Hinton, which is about 300 kilometres west of Edmonton. "People are hurting. We need some breaks for finances. It's scary. I don't know how people make it."

Watch | Albertans react to Trudeau's resignation announcement

Why some Albertans aren't surprised by Trudeau's resignation

2 days ago

Duration 2:29

There's no shortage of opinions in Alberta about Justin Trudeau's resignation announcement. Of those who spoke to CBC Monday, some were elated, while others weren't surprised. Travis McEwan looks at why Trudeau is considered a polarizing figure in Alberta.

In Calgary, Jill Hartman, who describes herself as a Liberal and NDP voter, says Trudeau has left the federal party in shambles.

"It doesn't feel great," she said. "I don't want [Conservative Party leader] Pierre Poilievre to become the next Prime Minister."

Grande Prairie taxi driver and construction worker Moustapha Salihi said Trudeau's resignation was serendipitous.

"The economy was down, economy was suffering. House pricing is high, the cost of living is high and we really need help," said Salihi, who added that he used to support the prime minister. "Trudeau was taking this economy down and we need the Conservatives to take over."

The governor general's move to prorogue Parliament at Trudeau's request prevents opposition parties from immediately toppling the Liberal minority government by introducing a motion of non-confidence.

Any federal legislation that has not received royal assent now ceases to exist.

Trump's inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 20.