Ontario Premier Doug Ford has clarified where the real ‘problem’ lies
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has doubled down on his warning about ‘cutting off’ the US’ energy but also apologized ‘to the American people’.
Trump’s Tariffs Ignite US-Canada Trade War as Tensions Escalate
Wasting no time after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump swiftly signed off on a series of executive orders, including a controversial set of tariffs aimed at China, Mexico, and Canada.
The order, which took effect after a 30-day pause on March 4, imposes 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 20% on Chinese goods—a move Trump claims will hold these countries “accountable for their promises to halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the US.” However, his remark that Canada’s only way to avoid the tariffs was by becoming the “Cherished 51st state” did not sit well with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who swiftly announced countermeasures.
Trudeau hit back hard, revealing a CA$155 billion retaliation plan, with CA$30 billion in tariffs taking effect immediately, and the remaining CA$125 billion set to roll out within 21 days. He also warned that Canada was in “active discussions” with provinces to implement additional non-tariff measures in response.
Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford escalated tensions further by threatening to cut off power to 1.5 million US customers, vowing to make the US “feel the pain.”
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything—including cut off their energy, with a smile on my face,” Ford told reporters, as quoted by the Toronto Sun.
Though Ford has since softened his stance toward the American public, he did not hold back on Trump himself. Speaking to CNN, he apologized to “the American people” but stressed that retaliation was necessary, stating:
“It’s not you; it’s your president that’s causing this problem.”
Ford Doubles Down on Trade War: “We Didn’t Start This, But We’ll Win It”
As the US-Canada trade war intensifies, Ontario Premier Doug Ford isn’t backing down. In a fiery statement, Ford reaffirmed his commitment to fighting back against Trump’s tariffs, emphasizing that Canada has been the US’ biggest customer and that their historically strong relationship is now at risk.
“We’re the number one customer in the world for the United States,” Ford stated. “We had a great relationship and want to continue that, but I will use every tool in our toolbox to send a message to President Trump that this is the wrong thing to do.”
Despite the federal government leading the charge, Ford vowed that Canada’s provinces will stand united, declaring:
“I didn’t start this tariff war, but we’re going to win this tariff war.”
As part of his retaliatory measures, Ford has officially torn up Ontario’s contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink—a subsidiary of SpaceX—which had previously been set to deliver high-speed internet to 15,000 rural homes and businesses.
Ford justified the move by directly calling out Trump’s leadership, accusing him of choosing “chaos” over shared prosperity and warning that Canada will not hesitate to escalate its response.
Ford made it clear that Ontario will not support businesses linked to what he calls an “economic attack” on Canada, stating:
“We won’t award contracts to people who enable and encourage economic attacks on our province and our country.”
His decision to scrap the province’s deal with Starlink is just one of many countermeasures Canada is considering as it pushes back against Trump’s crippling tariffs.
With tensions escalating, Canada is signaling it won’t hesitate to take stronger actions—including potential energy surcharges and export restrictions—to ensure its economy isn’t steamrolled in this growing trade war.
