Premier Ford appears on CNN to talk Trump tariffs, directs blame at China
Posted Jan 7, 2025 06:45:46 AM.
Last Updated Jan 7, 2025 10:17:59 AM.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford appeared on CNN on Monday, hours following Justin Trudeau’s decision to step down as Canada’s Liberal Party leader.
Premier Ford used his time with CNN’s Erin Burnett to respond to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s assertions that Canadians “love being the 51st state,” which Trump proclaimed in a post on the Truth Social platform and in reaction to Trudeau’s announcement.
“I appreciate his sense of humour… You know something, but it’s not realistic. We’re a sovereign country. We’re proud, and Canadians, just like Americans, are proud,” the premier said.
Trump also stated in his social media post that if Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no tariffs imposed, taxes would “go way down,” and the country would be “totally secure from the threat of the Russian and Chinese ships that are constantly surrounding them.”
Trump’s proposal to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods and services from Canada and Mexico was framed as a strategy to pressure the two nations into taking more decisive action against cross-border smuggling of drugs and people.
Before speaking on CNN, Premier Ford spoke to reporters at Queen’s Park and quipped that Canada ought to buy Alaska from the U.S., along with Minnesota and Minneapolis. He later said on the broadcast that he was joking.
Premier Ford added that the U.S. and Canada should be united against China, which he accused of using Mexican supply chains to undercut American and Canadian prices.
“The problem isn’t Canada. I’ve talked to so many governors, congresspeople, and senators. Never once did they say Canada is the problem,” Premier Ford said on CNN. “China’s the problem. China ships cheap parts, puts them in through Mexico, slaps a ‘made in Mexico’ sticker on them and ships them up through the U.S. and Canada, costing jobs. We need to work on a unilateral deal with the U.S.”
Chances of an early election in Ontario
Premier Ford was also asked about the possibility of an early provincial election.
“What I can tell you today is that I am 100 per cent focused on the tariffs,” he said. “My main focus is these tariffs right now.
“God forbid president-elect Trump gets in there and puts tariffs. We have to retaliate. We have to retaliate hard against our friends south of the border, which is unfortunate,” the premier added.
Although Premier Ford didn’t explicitly state he wouldn’t call an early election, analysts say it is improbable given the current federal political landscape.
The next scheduled Ontario general election is set for June 4, 2026.
Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie pressed Premier Ford to immediately reconvene the legislature, which is adjourned until March 3, to resume its work.
“This is a time for stability, not political posturing,” said Crombie.
