Ontario Premier Doug Ford is set to hold a news conference Tuesday after the U.S. imposed sweeping tariffs that could devastate several key industries in the province.
Ford is scheduled to speak and take questions from media at Queen’s Park in Toronto. He was initially slated to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET but the appearance has been delayed to noon.
You can watch the news conference live in this story.
Just after midnight, U.S. President Donald Trump moved ahead with long-threatened 25 per cent tariffs on most Canadian goods. A 10 per cent tariff will also be applied to all Canadian energy exports heading south of the border.
The import levies could wreak havoc on vital Ontario industries like auto manufacturing and steel production, as well as drive up retail prices and fuel more inflation. Auto giants based in the province have warned plants could be forced to halt production within five to eight days.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced late Monday that Canada’s retaliatory response would include matching tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods — roughly $30 billion worth of goods right away and the remaining $125 billion in 21 days to give Canadian companies time to adjust their supply chains.
“Today the U.S. launched a trade war against Canada, their closest ally and their closest friend. At the same time, they’re talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vladimir Putin, a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense,” Trudeau said during a Tuesday morning news conference in Ottawa.
He added that he believes Trump’s ultimate goal is to weaken the Canadian economy so he can try to annex the country.
“First of all, that is never going to happen. Canada will never be the 51st state,” he continued.
You can read more about tariffs, how they work and what they could mean for Canada here.
The newly re-elected Ford is currently the head of the Council of the Federation, a group comprised of all of Canada’s provincial and territorial leaders.
On Monday, he detailed some of the retaliatory measures his government could take in the face of tariffs, including a threat to cut off the flow of electricity from Ontario to the power grid in New York.
Ford has also floated the possibility of a surcharge of every megawatt of power the province supplies to some 1.5 million customers in New York, Michigan and Minnesota. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday it will be a 25 per cent export tax on electricity.
And speaking to NBC’s Meet the Press on Monday afternoon, Ford similarly said he will consider halting all exports of nickel, a mineral essential in the manufacture of many goods.
Meanwhile, the LCBO is pulling all American booze from its shelves, the premier’s office confirmed Tuesday morning. The LCBO buys about $1 billion in U.S. products annually. The LCBO is the province’s main alcohol distributor, which means grocery and convenience stores, bars and restaurants and other retailers will no longer be able to buy U.S. alcohol.
Ford has also vowed to cancel a $100-million contract with Starlink, a satellite internet company owned by billionaire Elon Musk, one of Trump’s closest aides. He has also said some $30 billion in provincial procurement will exclude any American companies.
Ford has previously expressed support for the federal government to go “dollar for dollar” with retaliatory tariffs against U.S. goods.
The Progressive Conservatives recent election platform included up to $20 billion in proposed new spending aimed at supporting industries and workers who could be hurt by tariffs. That includes a new $5-billion Protect Ontario Account, $10 billion in support for employers through a tax deferral, up to $3 billion more in payroll and premium relief and up to $40 million for municipalities.
