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

Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney has questioned why the province is excluding oil and gas from its counter-tariff strategy against the United States. Kenney argued that Canada has the capability to significantly impact the U.S. economy through oil and gas exports. "You don’t deal with an aggressive attack on your economy by starting with listing all the things you will not do in reprisal by limiting your options, by weakening your position.

That makes no sense," he said. Kenney also acknowledged that extracting oil and gas exports is not feasible, as central Canada relies on oil shipped through the U.S. However, he believed that imposing taxes on fuel and potash exports, which are essential for consumers and farmers, could backfire on the American economy, particularly with the mid-term elections approaching in November.

Kenney's remarks come as Alberta's government has announced counter-tariffs to counter the U.S. import fees on about $28 billion worth of Canadian goods. Meanwhile, Premier Danielle Smith has stated that oil and gas will not be part of the fight, arguing that cutting off energy exports would harm Canadians and result in financial losses for Canada.

Despite opposition from NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, who claimed that Smith's decision to dismiss the possibility of export taxes was "incredibly foolish," the Alberta Opposition has urged the federal government to resume negotiations with the U.S.