Dennis McConaghy, former executive vice-president at TransCanada Corporation told the Western Standard on Thursday that Ontario Premier Doug Ford's threat to block electricity exports to the U.S. is nothing but "false bravado."Ford made the comment in response to President-elect Donald Trump's threat to slap a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods heading to the U.S. unless Canada stops the flow of migrants and drugs into the America. "The idea that Canada or Alberta would have anything to gain from disrupting energy trade is just ludicrous," said McConaghy, noting Canada needs to make strides in security, defence spending, and dismantling supply management to accommodate Trump."And those are the things that whatever these premiers are talking to Trudeau about, they need to make some statements that Canada will be responsive to those three things and do so quickly.""Energy exports to the U.S. are meaningful and lucrative, and to simply disrupt them is not going to create the accommodation that Canada has to find with Trump," said McConaghy.Around a third of Canada's trade with the U.S. is energy. Last year, Ontario powered 1.5 million U.S. homes and is a significant exporter to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, reported Fox News. Suspending electricity exports would drive up U.S. power bills."It's a last resort," said Ford. "I don't think President-elect Trump wants that to happen. We're sending a message to the U.S. If you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let's hope it never comes to that."When asked about Ford's comments, Trump seemed unbothered, reported Fox."That's okay if he that does that. That's fine," Trump told CNBC.Trump also said the U.S. is "subsidizing" Canada. "We have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada but we shouldn't have to subsidize a country. We're subsidizing more than a $100 billion dollars a year. We shouldn't have to be doing that," he said.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Thursday she has no intention of cutting of energy exports to the US.
Dennis McConaghy, former executive vice-president at TransCanada Corporation told the Western Standard on Thursday that Ontario Premier Doug Ford's threat to block electricity exports to the U.S. is nothing but "false bravado."Ford made the comment in response to President-elect Donald Trump's threat to slap a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods heading to the U.S. unless Canada stops the flow of migrants and drugs into the America. "The idea that Canada or Alberta would have anything to gain from disrupting energy trade is just ludicrous," said McConaghy, noting Canada needs to make strides in security, defence spending, and dismantling supply management to accommodate Trump."And those are the things that whatever these premiers are talking to Trudeau about, they need to make some statements that Canada will be responsive to those three things and do so quickly.""Energy exports to the U.S. are meaningful and lucrative, and to simply disrupt them is not going to create the accommodation that Canada has to find with Trump," said McConaghy.Around a third of Canada's trade with the U.S. is energy. Last year, Ontario powered 1.5 million U.S. homes and is a significant exporter to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, reported Fox News. Suspending electricity exports would drive up U.S. power bills."It's a last resort," said Ford. "I don't think President-elect Trump wants that to happen. We're sending a message to the U.S. If you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let's hope it never comes to that."When asked about Ford's comments, Trump seemed unbothered, reported Fox."That's okay if he that does that. That's fine," Trump told CNBC.Trump also said the U.S. is "subsidizing" Canada. "We have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada but we shouldn't have to subsidize a country. We're subsidizing more than a $100 billion dollars a year. We shouldn't have to be doing that," he said.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Thursday she has no intention of cutting of energy exports to the US.
