Danielle Smith to share the stage with Ben Shapiro at Florida PragerU event

In this composite image, Ben Shapiro, left, leaves the Ohel Chabad-Lubavitch after a visit from President Donald Trump, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura). Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith, right, speaks to reporters at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to share the stage with American political commentator Ben Shapiro at an event hosted by a conservative non-profit in Florida later this month.

Smith and Shapiro are scheduled to speak at PragerU’s 2025 East Coast Gala on March 27. Shapiro is the founder and editor in chief of The Daily Wire – a right-wing American media company – and host of “The Ben Shapiro Show.”

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“At this event, the premier will be able to share Alberta and Canada’s message with an active, engaged, and influential US audience, amidst the ongoing trade war,” Sam Blackett, the premier’s press secretary, said in a statement.

“Given this travel will be part of the premier’s advocacy in the U.S. the costs for the premier’s travel and accommodations will be covered by Alberta’s government.”

This is the only event scheduled during the premier’s trip to Florida and she is not receiving a speaker fee, according to her office.

Smith’s team cited a recent video posted to TikTok last week where Shapiro said, “Canada is the number one trade partner of the United States, they are not a financial or economic or physical threat to the United States,” adding, “Treating them as such is not a wise move.”

“Given Ben Shapiro has millions of followers on social media, strong connections within President Donald Trump’s administration and believes the U.S. should lower tariffs on Canada … this event provides the opportunity for the premier to share and advocate for Alberta’s and Canada’s interests to millions of Americans and other key allies of the administration,” Blackett said.

Earlier this year, Shapiro shared different views about Canada, responding to a post on X – formerly Twitter – from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Jan. 7, stating, “When we take Canada, you will be expelled to Panama to work the canal.”

PragerU describes itself as an “educational media platform dedicated to promoting pro-American values.”

The Prager University Foundation produces content that encourages conservative viewpoints, offering “a free alternative to the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media and education,” the organization says.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized Smith’s attendance at the event, calling Shapiro an “extremist.”

“At a time when Canadians are encouraged to spend their tourism dollars in Canada and the Governor of Florida is insulting tourists from Canada, Danielle Smith will be fundraising for a far-right online platform with extremist Ben Shapiro,” Nenshi said in a statement.

“Danielle Smith should cancel this event immediately and focus on Albertans’ priorities, not those of her extremist friends.”

More details to come…

With files from CTV News Calgary’s Tyson Fedor