Doug Ford says cutting off U.S. energy supply amid tariff threats a 'last resort'

Premier Doug Ford says that cutting off the energy supply to the U.S. remains a “last resort” amid the threat of a promised 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods but he is warning that his government is ultimately prepared to use “every tool” in its toolbox “to protect the livelihoods of the people of Ontario.”

Ford made the comment during an unrelated news conference on Thursday morning, one day after he first floated the concept of ceasing to supply energy to the states of New, York, Michigan and Wisconsin.

“It is a last resort. We power 1.5 million homes (in the U.S) and if they put on tariffs it is going to be unaffordable for Americans to buy electricity just like if they put tariffs on the 4.3 million barrels of oil that Alberta is shipping down to the U.S.,” he said. “I don’t think president-elect Trump wants that to happen. But we are sending a message to the U.S. that if you come and attack Ontario, if you come and attack the livelihoods of the people of Ontario and Canadians we are going to use every tool in our toolbox to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let’s hope it never comes to that point.”

Ford said on Wednesday that Ontario was prepared to “go to the extent of cutting off” the energy supply to the United States in response to tariffs but on Thursday he made clear that such a drastic measure would be “the last thing” that he would want to do, telling reporters that he would be taking a “wait and see” approach.

Ford went on to say that his government is currently putting a “list together” of potential retaliatory elections alongside other Canadian provinces, with plans to discuss the measures during an upcoming meeting with other premiers scheduled for this weekend.

Ford also said that he would be speaking with the governors of New York and Michigan on Thursday.

“We just have to send a message. When it comes to the U.S. I want to send them more electricity, I want to send them critical minerals, I want to make sure we have fair trade going back and forth across the border. That is what I want to do: support them any way we can. They aren’t our enemies, they are our allies,” Ford said.

Ontario’s total trade with the U.S. in 2023 was valued at around $500 billion and a number of experts have previously warned that the province’s economy will be “disproportionately” impacted by Trump’s promised tariffs.

Speaking with reporters, Ford said that his “number one focus” right now is on protecting Ontario jobs from the “attack coming in the forms of tariffs.”

To that end, Ford has made several appearances on U.S. television networks in recent days. The Ontario government has also launched an advertising blitz in the U.S, touting the benefits the country receives as a result of its trade relationship with Ontario.

“I think it would be in the best interest of the Canadian government to start running ads as well,” Ford said Thursday. “Americans should not be able to go on social media, turn on a radio or turn on a television without seeing an ad from Canada or Ontario getting our positive message out there and telling Americans how important of a trading partner we are.”