Ontario threatens to cut US energy supply over Trump tariffs

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is threatening to freeze Canadian energy shipments to the US if President-elect Donald Trump delivers on his promise to slap a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian goods after he arrives in the White House on Jan. 20. Ford told reporters Wednesday in Toronto that Trudeau Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is preparing a list of products that could be subject to a retaliatory Canadian tariff and that Ontario is also doing so.

"We will go to the full extent, depending on how far this goes. We will go to the extent of cutting off their energy, going down to Michigan, going down to New York State, and over to Wisconsin. I don't want this to happen, but my number one job is to protect Ontario, Ontarians, and Canadians as a whole since we're the largest province," Ford said.

"Let's see what happens as we move forward. But we'll use every tool in our toolbox, including cutting them off energy that we're sending down there," he pledged.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Thursday that her province will not stop sending oil and gas to the US, regardless of whether Trump’s tariff comes to pass. She made the announcement just after declaring that her government would spend $29 million to enhance border security.

Ford chaired a virtual first ministers meeting with other premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday. It was the second Zoom call the group has had since Trump announced that Canada would be subject to a 25 percent tariff unless it moves quickly and decisively to bolster border security. Trudeau has argued that a “Team Canada” united front will dissuade Trump from following through on the tariff threat while he has issued vague promises to increase border security. Trudeau even made a highly-publicized trip to Mar-a-Lago to discuss the tariff and border issues with Trump. Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre – whose party is over 20 percentage points ahead of Trudeau’s Liberals in the polls – has argued for a “Canada First” strategy that dramatically tightens the border, cuts taxes and increases defense spending.

Ford said Wednesday that huge tariffs on Canadian products would not be good for either Canada or the US but he is convinced that the president-elect is very serious about delivering them if the status quo remains unchallenged. "I think he's being a little more aggressive than he was in the past, and I say this respectfully to the president, he's a different type of cat, to say the least," Ford said.

"And maybe I'm a different type of cat, but you know, I've never seen, not so much aggression, but so matter of fact. He didn't come across this way last time. And it's not helpful for both sides of the border."

Ford spokeswoman Grace Lee told The Associated Press that Ford was only talking about Ontario’s intentions and was not presuming to speak on behalf of other premiers blocking energy sales to the US, according to CBC News.

Lee said Ontario power was used by 1.5 million US homes in 2023 and that Michigan, Minnesota and New York all rely on Ontario’s electricity. Energy accounts for about a third of Canada’s trade with the US and nearly $3.6 billion CAD ($2.7 billion USD) of goods and services are exchanged every day.