Notley selling ‘safe oil’ on D.C. jaunt

Warns of unintended trade issues

CALGARY • Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has yet to meet with members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on her trip to Washington D.C., but trade and policy experts say the premier still had a successful diplomatic mission given her face time with American governors.

Notley is in Washington, D.C. this week telling U.S. lawmakers, think tank directors and political insiders of all stripes that their country’s relationship with Alberta represents $84 billion in two-way trade and even minor changes to that relationship could create unintended problems.

“On any trade relationship, as you pull one thread, you inadvertently end up pulling about 20 more,” Notley said during a press conference Tuesday.

Notley said she had meetings that focused on how Alberta’s oil and gas exports to the U.S. helped support industries south of the border that Trump has attempted to champion.

“The issue of the competitive advantage that comes from having access to our energy and the contribution that it makes for a strong manufacturing sector in the United States, let alone in Canada, is recognized,” she said.

The premier had yet to meet with any members of the Trump administration, which has proposed a border adjustment tax and possible “tweaks” to the North American Free Trade agreement with Canada, but said she hoped to meet with them on Wednesday.

Notley’s trip coincides with the U.S. National Governors Association meeting in Washington, and the premier had met with Montana Governor Steve Bullock, a Democrat, and Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, a Republican, on her trip, as well as U.S. senators from Montana.