Premier Scott Moe attended the first ministers meeting Wednesday to discuss relations with the U.S. and the threat of tariffs from incoming president Donald Trump. (CJME file photo)

By Lisa Schick - CKOM News

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Most of the country’s premiers stuck to a Team Canada narrative after the meeting on U.S. relations and the threat of tariffs on Wednesday in Ottawa.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came out saying they had a commitment to “stand together on a path forward.”

The unity appeared to extend to Premier Scott Moe, who hasn’t been shy about his disagreements with federal policies in the past.

When asked by a reporter at the closing news conference about the prime minister’s precarious political status going into possible negotiations, Moe talked about agreement around the table.

“We may have policy disagreements from time to time, but there’s things we agree on and there’s times when we do have to come together to represent what is in the best interests of all Canadian and we, in Saskatchewan, we continue to be Canadians,” said Moe.

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Away from the first ministers’ table Moe has frequently talked about how there needs to be a federal election quickly, so the leader who engages with the U.S. administration can have a mandate from the people.

The premier said Canadians can be thankful that there are 13 premiers, a prime minister and federal ministers coming together to understand what’s going to happen over the next several days as Donald Trump enters the Oval Office and may or may not implement his tariffs on Canada.

Moe said the U.S. is Canada’s biggest trade partner and there have been trade tariff disputes before so there is a process on how to deal with it.

“Today that process involves each of us, whether we be a sub-national leader or a part of the federal government today, or months ahead, whoever that might be, is to ensure that North Americans are aware of the impact that these U.S. tariffs will have on all North Americans – in particular on Americans,” said Moe.

The collective approach didn’t last long.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who attended the meeting virtually and did not take part in the news conference, said in an online post that Alberta won’t be able to support Ottawa’s plan unless restrictions on energy exports to the U.S. are off the table.

Moe had previously said he did not support any export tariffs and that they would be a betrayal.