Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
CALGARY – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, weighing in on her limp hand clasp with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that went viral, says she wasn’t expecting the handshake.
Smith says she and Trudeau shook hands Tuesday moments before media were allowed into the room for a photo opportunity in Ottawa.
She says she was caught by surprise when he reached out again in front of the cameras, which captured a smiling Trudeau reaching down, clutching and pinning with his thumb Smith’s palm-down hand.
The premier says it was an awkward image and they “kind of missed the landing.”
The meeting came as Smith and Trudeau discussed proposed federal legislation aimed at helping workers transition to a world increasingly reliant on renewable energy.
Smith has said she wants to work with Trudeau on that but also wants assurances the new rules won’t gut Alberta’s oil and gas industry.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2023.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Smith had not met with reporters in a month.
