Awkward moment or conscious message? Political experts weigh in on Danielle Smith-Justin Trudeau handshake

An “awkward” attempt at a handshake between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the prime minister Tuesday is another example of leaders from the western province hesitating before shaking Justin Trudeau’s hand, say political experts.
Smith, in the nation’s capital for the First Ministers’ Meeting on health care, and Justin Trudeau exchanged brief remarks during a photo opportunity to discuss yet-to-be-tabled legislation addressing the energy transition to a lower carbon future.
The meeting began with Trudeau reaching for a handshake and Smith offering a somewhat hesitant palm. The prime minister smiled, took her hand and held it as Smith presented a clipped smile. “It was incredibly awkward,” said Keith Brownsey, an author and Mount Royal University political scientist. “When I grew up, if you didn’t shake someone’s hand who offered a hand and you didn’t shake it, you were being extremely rude,” he added. While Smith’s terse exchange may not have been planned, Richard Sutherland, a Mount Royal University political scientist, said it still sent a message of hesitancy.
“Keeping your distance politically means sometimes keeping your distance physically when actually confronted with the prime minister,” Sutherland said.
“It does send the message that Smith is not altogether comfortable with this moment,” he added. “Part of it may simply be recognizing that it is awkward [to meet] someone that you have been really running against politically for the last almost a year.
“It is kind of an interesting moment when you are finally confronted with this person right there in front of you.”
In the fall, Smith’s first sitting as premier was dominated by the passage of the sovereignty act, legislation giving her government the ability to challenge what it determines to be a federal overreach.
Last month, she vowed to “fight” Trudeau’s government over the “just transition” framework, which she believes is phasing out the province’s oil and gas sector.
Source: edmonton.ctvnews.ca