Ontario Premier Doug Ford is unveiling more details about his “Fortress Am-Can” plan to bolster the relationship between the U.S. and Canada in the face of tariff threats by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
“Fortress Am-Can would be a true partnership, one that respects each country as proudly independent with alignment on shared priorities; free, fair, balanced, trade; accelerated resource development; stronger border security and energy security to power economic growth on both sides of our border,” Ford said in a presentation to the Mississauga Board of Trade Thursday.
Trump has threatened to impose blanket 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods exported to the United States unless Canada strengthens its border and meets a NATO spending goal of two per cent GDP.
Ford has responded by highlighting the extensive trading relationship between the province and the U.S. and by suggesting a “renewed alliance,” dubbed “Fortress Am-Cam,” for the countries to deepen their relationship rather than antagonize one another.
He said Thursday his plan would include a call to do away with the federal digital services tax and the federal carbon tax; “free and fair trade” in the automotive manufacturing sector with the goal of co-producing a million more vehicles by 2028; increasing steel trade between Canada and the U.S. by 25 per cent by 2028; expanding food trade between the two countries and reducing reliance on China; boosting transport networks between the two countries; harmonizing professional certifications and deepening energy partnerships.
He has previously laid out plans to deepen partnerships around essential minerals and energy as part of the proposal.
Many of Ford’s ideas would require federal support or authorization. He has cited a crisis of leadership in Ottawa due to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement that he will step down, and has said Ontario will do everything it can to stave off Trump’s threats given that the province would be more affected than any other jurisdiction in the country.
Ford met Wednesday with the other premiers along with Trudeau to discuss the tariff threats and Canada’s response.
The premiers issued a statement afterward pledging to work together to respond to the threats, including possible retaliatory tariffs. The statement was signed by all the premiers aside from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who said she would not support export tariffs on Alberta oil.
Unprompted, Ford repeated Thursday that he does “not have the mandate to spend tens of billions of dollars right now,” if he needs to pump money into the economy to keep it afloat because of tariffs.
He made the comments earlier in the week, adding to speculation that he may very well call an early election in the near future.
Asked directly if he will be seeking a mandate in order to deal with the tariffs, Ford said “we really do have to see what happens” and said it will depend on whether Trump immediately brings them into force after taking office.
“I think he’s going to come out of the gate real quick and start hitting us with tariffs, and he’s going to try to pay for his debt and everything else with it. But it will not work,” Ford said.
The premier also urged Ontario businesses who do business in the U.S. to reach out to their partners and let them know that tariffs would hurt business on both sides of the border.
