Ex-Alberta premier Jason Kenney says oil needs to be on the table in U.S. tariff war

Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney has criticized his province for excluding oil and gas from the table in the ongoing tariff war with the United States. In an interview, Kenney argued that Canada possesses the capability to significantly pressure the U.S. through oil and gas exports. He contends that it is illogical for Alberta to withdraw this leverage from the negotiation table at a time when the conflict is intensifying, suggesting that this action has diminished Canada's negotiating position.

The comments come as Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has unveiled a series of retaliatory tariffs in response to punitive import fees imposed on approximately $28 billion worth of Canadian goods by the U.S. Premier Danielle Smith has stated that oil and gas will not be part of the fight, asserting that such a decision would harm Canadians and deprive the country of funds that could be utilized to support other sectors grappling with the impact of Trump's tariffs.

Other provincial leaders have endorsed a strategy of employing every available economic instrument to confront U.S. President Donald Trump. This report, originally published by The Canadian Press on August 25, 2026, highlights Kenney's stance against the exclusion of oil and gas from the current tariff dispute.