Premier Doug Ford says Ontario could cut fuel for the U.S. if President-elect Donald Trump makes good on his threat to impose heavy tariffs on Canadian goods.
“Depending on how far it goes, we'll go to the extreme. We'll go to the extent of cutting off their energy, going to Michigan, going to New York State and going to Wisconsin. I don't want that to happen. , but my first job is to protect Ontario, Ontarians and Canadians as a whole, ” said Ford.
“We'll see what happens as we go forward. But we'll use every tool in our toolbox, including cutting the energy we send out there,” he added.
Ford and other provincial and territorial leaders met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday to discuss Trump's threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on goods coming from Canada unless the country improves border security.
Despite a lack of evidence for Trump's claims that illegal fentanyl has been smuggled into the US from Canada, Canada has promised to increase border security.
Ford said the Canada-US border is a federal responsibility but the province will support efforts to strengthen it in the face of the tariff threat.
“Folks, it's coming … and we need to be ready. We need to stand up as a country. We need to come together as Canadians and work hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder.”
Ford told reporters at Queen's Park that he asked Trudeau for Canada Border Services Agency officials and RCMP officers. He said the federal government has agreed to “more boots on the ground” in Ontario.
“I just want to emphasize that the border is the responsibility of the federal government of Canada. We will always be there to support,” Ford said.
The meeting with the prime minister is Trudeau's first since dinner with the incoming US president at his Florida estate.
Ford said the federal government has a plan to solve the problem at the border, but it needs to be implemented.
Earlier, Ford discussed the impending meeting with Trudeau on US channel CNBC on Wednesday, saying: “We're going to hold his feet to the fire.”
Ford said Ontario would strengthen the US-Canada border.
“We're so much stronger together,” Ford told host Kelly Evans on CNBC's Power Lunch. “We are here to strengthen our relationship, not to hurt our relationship.”
