Alberta Premier Danielle Smith came into the federal election campaign hoping her words would leave an imprint.

Well, maybe not like this.

She wanted her points about oil and gas regulation, and her demands on pipeline approvals, to influence the conversation. Less so her weeks-old remarks to a Trump-friendly media outlet about a strategic Washington “pause” on tariffs to avoid boosting Liberal fortunes, and that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was “in sync” with the direction of Donald Trump.

After her interview with Breitbart News surfaced on the eve of campaign launch, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was most forceful in denouncing Smith’s talk of advising Trump administration officials to pause tariff plans “so we can get through an election” and ideally elect Poilievre to deal with the U.S. president.

“Shameful,” Singh termed it.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said it was 'shameful' that Smith claimed to have advised Trump administration officials to pause tariffs until after the election to avoid boosting the Liberals. (The Canadian Press)

“If you’re loyal to this country, if you care about Canadians, you say, ‘Stop the tariffs. Don’t hurt Canadian workers. Don’t hurt Canadian families. Don’t hurt Quebecers,’” Singh said while on the stump in Montreal.