Premier Doug Ford says Ontario could cut off fuel to the U.S. if president-elect Donald Trump makes good on a threat to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods.
Ford said federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will put together a list of items upon which Canada could impose retaliatory tariffs and so will the Ontario government.
“We will go to the full extent depending how far this goes. We will go to the extent of cutting off their energy, going down to Michigan, going down to New York State and over to Wisconsin. I don’t want this to happen, but my number one job is to protect Ontario, Ontarians and Canadians as a whole,” Ford said.
“Let’s see what happens as we move forward. But we’ll use every tool in our toolbox, including cutting them off energy that we’re sending down there,” he added.
Ford and other provincial and territorial premiers met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau virtually on Wednesday to discuss a threat by Trump to impose 25 per cent tariffs on goods coming in from Canada unless the country improves security along the border.
Canada has vowed to increase border security despite a lack of evidence for Trump’s claims about illicit fentanyl pouring into the U.S. from Canada.
Ford said the Canada-U.S. border is a federal responsibility but the province will support efforts to strengthen it in the face of the tariff threat.
“Folks, this is coming…and we need to be prepared. We need to stand as a country. We need to stand united as Canadians and work hand-in-hand and shoulder-to-shoulder.”
Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park that he asked Trudeau for more Canada Border Services Agency officers and RCMP officers. He said the federal government has agreed to “more boots on the ground” in Ontario.
The meeting with the premiers was the first since Trudeau had dinner with the incoming U.S. president at his Florida estate.
Ford said the federal government has a plan to address problems at the border but it has to be implemented.
Earlier, Ford discussed the impending meeting with Trudeau on the U.S. channel CNBC on Wednesday, saying: “We’re going to hold his feet to the fire.”
Ford added that Ontario would strengthen the U.S.-Canada border.
“We’re just so much stronger together,” Ford told host Kelly Evans on CNBC’s Power Lunch. “We’re there to strengthen our relationship, not hurt our relationship.”