Ontario Premier Doug Ford pledges to “hold the line” and says Canadians must not parley with the US on half-tariffs in the hope of averting a full continental trade war.
“Am I the only guy with a backbone to go after Trump?” Ford asked a radio talk show host on Wednesday, according to Blacklock's Reporter.
“We want zero tariff. We don’t want half the amount of tariffs.”
In an interview broadcast on The Morning Rush With Bill Carroll on Radio CFRA Ottawa, Ford said compromise was out of the question.
“We haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.
“The attack was unprovoked and we are going to fight, simple as that.”
“If they want to meet us halfway, no, there is no halfway. We do not want tariffs on Canadians.”
“You hold your line?” asked Carroll.
“We hold our line and counter tariff, tariff for tariff, dollar for dollar,” replied Ford. “They want to tariff us for 10% or 15 then they are getting a tariff. These tariffs do not work. All they do is hurt people.”
“We have a great team of premiers and we’re all working hard. I am going to give some credit here. I know people will lose their minds, but over the last few weeks Prime Minister Trudeau has done a better job than he has in 10 years. But he’s leaving and we’re going to continue fighting.”
“Sometimes you think up there, am I the only guy with a backbone to go after Trump?”
“I don’t care. I am going to protect the people of Ontario and the people of Canada because we are in the right position.”
Ontario is America’s third largest trading partner after Mexico and China, by federal estimate.
Ford reiterated his threat to cut hydroelectricity exports to Great Lakes states if Americans escalate the trade war.
“Is this something you would actually be willing to do?” asked Carroll.
“It would be the last resort,” replied Ford.
“The last thing I want to do is cut off their electricity.”
“I have three great governors in New York and Michigan and Minnesota I have an excellent relationship with. It’s unfortunate, but when your country is under attack and they want to close down plants, take food off people’s tables until they can’t pay their mortgages and rent and they’re under full economic attack, I am going to use every tool in our toolkit.”
“Make no mistake about it, they know I am serious. I am not a bluffer. When I say I am going to do something I get it done. And if they start hurting families anywhere in Canada, especially Ontario, well, the lights are going off. When I say I am going to do it, just watch me.”
“I want to tell the listeners, it’s not the American people, it’s not the American elected officials Republican or Democrat It’s one person and that’s President Trump who created this chaos pretty much around the world right now. Everyone’s on edge.”
“If he loses two Congressional votes his tax breaks don’t go through. We’re going to target those areas to make sure there are no tariffs.”
“Maybe they actually want Canada to become a 51st state?” asked Carroll.
“That will never happen,” replied Ford.
“I always say Canada is not for sale. We are not the 51st state. We never will be.”
“I think they underestimated the strength and will of the Canadian people. We’ve hit back extremely hard. They underestimated us and I just don’t believe in any tariffs whatsoever. When you see the market tank by $3 trillion, there is chaos happening and assembly lines will shut down in both countries and plants will shut down.”