Alberta politician heads to Minnesota for legislator conference, trade advocacy

Edmonton - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will meet with U.S. officials next week, following her recent call for Canada to bolster diplomacy and avert escalation of their trade conflict. Premier Smith’s press secretary, Sam Blackett, disclosed that the trip is part of a personal visit to the United States, in addition to discussions with Alberta’s senior U.S. representative, Nathan Cooper.

The officials scheduled to meet include the commissioner of Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development, the head of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, and the CEO of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Alberta’s participation in organizations like the Council of State Governments Midwest, headed by MLA Jennifer Johnson, was highlighted by Blackett.

Johnson, along with six other Saskatchewan caucus members, will join Smith at the U.S. organization’s annual Midwestern Legislative Conference in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from Sunday to Wednesday. The conference will bring lawmakers from 11 U.S. states, focusing on energy, trade, and agriculture. Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Minister David Marit, alongside Rural Health Minister Lori Carr and Legislature Speaker Todd Goudy, will also attend.