‘Canada is not for sale’: Ford says Canada must send clear message to Trump
Posted Jan 15, 2025 12:00:54 PM.
Last Updated Jan 15, 2025 06:14:43 PM.
Doug Ford says Canadians must remain united and stand up to President-elect Donald Trump’s threats of 25 per cent tariffs on Canada.
Following a meeting of the premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Wednesday, Ford said Canada needs to send a strong message regarding any U.S. imposed tariffs.
“Things are going to change in a week when the inauguration of President Trump happens and if he moves forward with these tariffs there’s never been a time that’s been more important for Canadians to be united, to stand up and make sure that our voice is heard,” he said. “And the retaliatory tariffs need to be hard, we have to send a message when someone comes up and tries to destroy our economy it will be devastating for Canadians.”
While there was no direct talk Wednesday of what kind of measures Canada would take in response to any U.S. tariffs, Ford has previously threatened to cut off energy supplies to U.S. states. There has also been talk of cutting off oil supplies but that has been met with resistance from the premiers of Quebec and Alberta.
Canada is the top supplier of foreign oil to the U.S., accounting for about one-fifth of its oil supply.
Ford also had a message for Canadian consumers and retailers ahead of any potential U.S. tariffs – shop ‘Made in Canada’ products.
“This is an opportunity for Canadians to stand up and be proud, even when it comes down to going into your local retailer, look at the back of the label. If it doesn’t say ‘Made in Canada’ pick the can beside it that does say ‘Made in Canada,’ said Ford.
“If we get hit by a tariff and our costs go up, I’d rather pay a few more cents to go to a Canadian supplier, someone that’s producing right here in Canada. We should never be reliant on anyone, we’re the greatest country in the world, we’re an economic powerhouse, there’s nothing that we cannot build collectively across our great country.”
Trump initially said the tariffs were being imposed in response to drugs and illegal immigration crossing the shared border but has since pivoted to citing the United States’ trade deficit with Canada.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump pledged to create an “external revenue service” to start collecting “tariffs, duties and all revenue that come from foreign sources.”
In the past, Trump has stated 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.”
Ford has said that tariffs could cost 500,000 jobs in Ontario but he reassured Ontarians on Thursday that the province would be there to support them.
Canada is not for sale
Ford showed up to the meeting wearing a baseball cap adorned with the phrase “Canada is not for sale,” with the Canadian flag on one side and 1867 on the other.
Ford wrote in a social media post that the hat came from Ottawa entrepreneur Jackpine and linked to their new online hat store, strongandfreehat.ca.
The website’s offerings include baseball caps and tuques emblazoned with “Canada is not for sale” or “strong and free.” The pair behind the hats say they were inspired by a recent interview Ford did with Fox News, in which the host pushed Trump’s idea of annexation.
On Wednesday, Ottawa released new details of its $1.3-billion border security package. The move comes just five days ahead of Trump’s official swearing-in as U.S. President.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said Ottawa is adding 60 drones at the Canada-U.S. border and will deploy two new helicopters. He says he’s hoping Trump will understand just how serious Ottawa is taking border security.
“We’re not interested in drama. We’re interested in making progress,” McGuinty said.
With files from The Canadian Press
