Ontario Premier Doug Ford has warned that he may cut off electricity to 1.5 million U.S. customers in response to Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariffs on Canadian goods.
Shortly after returning to the White House in January, President Trump signed an order implementing what he called “catastrophic” tariffs, aimed at holding Canada, Mexico, and China accountable for their commitments to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. The measure includes a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with a 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods.
Trump defended the tariffs, stating that Canada could only avoid them by becoming the U.S.’s “cherished 51st state.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a firm response in a statement on Monday (March 3), saying: “Today, after a 30-day pause, the United States administration has decided to proceed with imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports and 10 percent tariffs on Canadian energy. Let me be unequivocally clear – there is no justification for these actions.”
The White House announcement justified the tariffs as part of Trump’s broader strategy to hold Canada, Mexico, and China accountable for issues including illegal immigration and drug trafficking. The administration stated: “There is growing production of fentanyl in Canada, and enough fentanyl was seized at the northern border last fiscal year to kill 9.8 million Americans.
“Additionally, illegal border crossings from Canada reached historic new highs every year for the last four fiscal years.”
Ford’s Response: A Threat to Cut U.S. Power Supply
Doug Ford, who recently secured a third majority, responded strongly during a press conference, warning that Ontario could retaliate by shutting down energy exports to the U.S.
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do anything, including cutting off their energy — with a smile on my face,” Ford stated. “They need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard? We’ve got to go back twice as hard.”
Speaking with NBC, Ford emphasized Ontario’s role in supplying power to U.S. states, saying: “We [Ontario] keep the lights on in 1.5 million homes and [in] manufacturing in New York, in Michigan, and in Minnesota.
“If he wants to destroy our economy and our families, I will shut down the electricity going into the U.S.”
Ford later doubled down on his stance while addressing a mining convention in Toronto. According to the Toronto Sun, he reiterated: “If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything — including cut off their energy with a smile on my face.
“They rely on our energy, they need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard, we’re going to come back twice as hard.”
He added: “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.
“The provinces have a big say in it, but it’s the federal government that’s leading the charge, and we’re going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder no matter who’s in the federal government.”