Ontario Premier Doug Ford is softening his language a day after telling a U.S. media outlet that he plans to hold Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “accountable” for managing the threat of tariffs from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
“We just want a clear plan for the trade deal,” Ford told CTV News Toronto Wednesday morning. “And you know when the president says we have to tighten up the border and all the premiers agree we have to tighten it up, we need to see a strong plan. Hopefully the prime minister will come with a strong plan on securing our borders.”
Ford’s comments come as he prepares to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the other premiers to discuss the threat of a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports to the U.S.
A day earlier Premier Ford told Fox News Reporter Aishah Hasnie that he and the other premiers planned to “hold the prime minister accountable.”
Ford also said he’d be “more than happy to fly down to Florida tomorrow” if Trump has a few minutes to discuss the tariff threat himself.
“I’d be down there in a heartbeat,” he said.
But asked Wednesday if he thinks he should be the one negotiating with Trump instead of Trudeau, Ford said that’s not the case.
“No, not at all. It’s a Team Canada effort,” Ford said. “The prime minister is the prime minister. He needs to lead the negotiations. But we do need to be involved, all the premiers. We need a seat at the table.”
Trump has demanded that Canada tighten its borders to stem the flow of fentanyl and migrants, or else face the sweeping tariffs.
Trudeau responded to the threat by flying down to Florida to have dinner with trump at his Mar a Lago resort. While the meeting was hailed as a success, Trump has since mocked Trudeau, referring to him in social media posts as “Governor Justin Trudeau” and referring to Canada as one of the U.S. states.
Trudeau has nonetheless said that Canada is ready top spend more on border security.
Ford, who has said that the U.S. trade relationship matters more to Ontario than any other jurisdiction in Canada, has said he welcomes that news.
“I think we need that. We need more CBSA officers. We need more patrol boats,” he said Wednesday.
As an example, Ford said that in Windsor local police are called upon to patrol the border waters because CBSA does not have a boat there. He called the arrangement “staggering.”
Ford also said that Ontario officials are in contact with U.S. governors, senators and congressional representatives “on a daily basis” to reiterate the importance of free trade.
“We’re out there talking about the great relationship that we have with the United States and that needs to continue,” Ford said.
Ontario’s total trade with the U.S. in 2023 was valued at around $500 billion, according to the provincial government.
Trudeau and the premiers are expected to discuss the results of their meeting Wednesday afternoon.