Doug Ford is insisting that Ontario remains prepared to take retaliatory measures in the event of U.S. tariffs, including ripping up a $100 million contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
Ford made the comment during an interview with CNN on Thursday when asked specifically about Musk’s dismissal of the threat earlier this week – when he said “Oh well” on social media in response.
“I can’t support someone hell bent on destroying our province, taking food off people’s tables and destroying the economy,” Ford said. “I just can’t roll over.”
Ford said on Monday that the province would rip up the contract with Starlink and stop doing business with U.S. companies going forward in response to the tariffs.
However, he announced later that day that the measures would be put on “pause” following a last-minute deal to delay the implementation of the tariffs until at least March 1.
During his interview with CNN on Monday, Ford suggested that while “Canada does not want to retaliate,” it remains prepared to should U.S. President Donald Trump follow through on a threat to slap a 25 per cent tariff on most goods.
Ford also rejected Trump’s suggestion earlier this week that the United States does not need to import Canadian oil, gas, autos or lumber.
“I respectfully disagree. We buy as many cars as we sell into the U.S. The auto sector is so integrated, parts can go back and forth eight times,” he said. “The energy. There is 4.3 million barrels (of oil) every day (that is shipped to the U.S.). That is 1.2 billion barrels a year. And on electricity, Ontario keeps lights on for 1.5 million homes and business in New York and Michigan and Minnesota.”
Ontario is currently in the midst of an election campaign, with voters set to head to the polls on Feb. 27.
Opposition leaders have previously criticized Ford for calling an election ahead of the tariffs and have suggested that he did so solely to capture a third term.
Ford, for his part, has said that he needs a “strong mandate” to be able to protect Ontario from the imposition of tariffs that he says could result in the loss of 500,000 jobs in the province.
Toronto mayor says municipalities are united
His latest comments on Thursday come ahead of a Canada-U.S. economic summit in Toronto on Friday that is being hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and will bring together business and labour leaders.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is also holding a news conference in Ottawa on Thursday where it will outline the steps that Canada’s biggest cities are prepared to take in response to U.S. tariffs.
“When we say ‘Team Canada’ we mean unity with a single purpose determined to stand up for Canada. Every Canadian, every order of government across Canada are saying with one voice that we are Canadian and not American. We like our neighbours but when you attack us we will retaliate and we will all do our part,” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow told reporters at an unrelated press conference on Thursday. “We (municipalities) have a lot of tools.”
