Hours before the United States’ tariffs against Canada went into effect, Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his threat to cut off electricity flowing from the province into several U.S. states.
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do anything — including cutting off their energy — with a smile on my face,” the newly re-elected premier told reporters.
The province supplies electricity to New York, Michigan and Minnesota.
“They need to feel the pain. They want to come at us? We’ve got to go back twice as hard,” said Ford.
Ford went on to say that he’s directed the LCBO to “remove every bit of U.S. alcohol off the shelves,” which will amount to a net loss of $1 billion worth of 3,600 products purchased from 35 states.
“We’re gonna cancel Starlink right away from Elon Musk,” said Ford. “Not that $100 million dollars makes a difference for him, but it’s principle,” he said.
“I’ve directed the procurement of over $30 billion worth of goods, not to go to the U.S., to make sure that we buy Ontario first. If we can’t find it in Ontario and we can’t build it in Ontario, we go across the country.”
Ford said that Ontario has 51 tariff-free agreements with other countries around the world which the province will utilize to diversify its trade.
The premier is asking retailers to label their products with a Canadian flag if they are made domestically.
“So please, please work with us, or we’re going to legislate it. And start onshoring goods from — you’re bringing (goods) around the world — there’s nothing we can’t build here in Ontario, absolutely nothing,” said Ford.
According to Ford, he intends to introduce legislation to ensure that consumers in his province are “buying Ontario first and Canada second.”
U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports will come into effect Tuesday, with a 10 per cent carve out for energy.
“The tariffs are all set, they go into effect tomorrow,” said Trump Monday, adding that there was “no room left” for renegotiations.