Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened to cut off energy supplies to the United States if President-elect Donald Trump slaps massive tariffs on Canadian exports.
Ford’s remarks came after Trump vowed to levy a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico unless they stop the flow of migrants and narcotics into the United States.
“We will compile a list, and I am confident that the other provinces will do the same. However, depending on the outcome, we will go to the full extent. “We will go as far as cutting off their energy,” Ford declared Wednesday (December 11) after meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other province premiers.
Ford stated that he does not want to make the step, but he does not believe Canada will avoid tariffs.
“This fight is 100% coming on Jan. 20 or Jan. 21,” he warned, referring to Trump’s inauguration day. “We’ll utilise every tool in our toolbox to fight back. We can’t just sit back and roll over. We simply will not, as a country. And isn’t that a shame for our closest friends and allies?”
According to statistics, Canada accounts for approximately 60% of the nation’s crude oil imports and 85% of its electricity imports.
It is unclear whether Ford was talking to all Canadian provinces cutting off energy to the United States or simply his own province. Ford’s spokesperson, Grace Lee, said the subject was brought up during a meeting with Trudeau and other provincial premiers. Ontario, Canada’s most populated province, reportedly powered 1.5 million households in the United States last year and is a significant electrical exporter to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York.
“Premier Ford can only speak on behalf of Ontario, but its an area of provincial jurisdiction that we would certainly look at,” Lee said during a press conference.