Doug Ford, the improbable “Captain Canada”

(Ottawa) Nothing suggested, just a few weeks ago, that the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, would so skillfully don the mantle of “Captain Canada” to respond to the numerous threats made by the president-elect of the States -United.

To the satisfaction of many, this is the mission he is tackling in order to defend the interests of his own province and, in turn, those of the entire country. He does this privately by multiplying calls to the governors of certain American states and to members of Congress to warn them of the disastrous consequences that would have the imposition of 25% customs tariffs on all Canadian products, as Donald proposes to do. Trump upon his return to power on January 20.

He also does this by lining up interviews with American television networks, notably Fox News, the network favored by Republican supporters in the United States, and CNN.

This former businessman does it above all by using language that Donald Trump, also from the business world, understands. It’s a style that appeals even to members of the liberal intelligentsia in the federal capital.

“What Doug Ford is doing right now, I really like it. He has my vote,” he told The Press a Liberal source in Ottawa who requested anonymity in order to speak more freely.

Doug Ford did not mince his words following the latest outing from Donald Trump, who said he was ready to use “economic force” – and not military force as he mentioned in the case of the island of Greenland and the Panama Canal – to annex Canada.

For more than a month, the president-elect has been making allusions to the fact that Canada has every interest in becoming the 51st^e American state. In the evening of Tuesday, Donald Trump published on his Truth Social network a map of the United States including Canada.

“I love the United States. I like Americans. And I understand the matter well. President-elect Trump is a real estate mogul. He made billions. But this property is not for sale. It’s as simple as that,” Doug Ford said Tuesday evening during an interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters.

This line left the host perplexed, who said he found it “offensive” that people could find it “repugnant” to be offered “the privilege” of being part of the United States.

Keeping his calm, the Premier of Ontario said that Canada and the United States must instead work more closely together to better counter the rise of China.

Return the favor

This was not the first time that Mr. Ford responded point-for-tat to Donald Trump’s quips. “You know what, I’m going to make a counter-offer to him, to the president-elect. What if we bought Alaska and added Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time? “, he said on Monday. These comments were echoed by certain American media.

Before the holiday break, Mr. Ford also told the Fox News network that Mr. Trump, referring to the 51^e State, was perhaps still frustrated that the United States’ last attempt to invade Canada, in the early 19th^e century, had been a failure.

Also in December, he raised the idea of ​​suspending exports of energy and critical minerals on which the United States depends if Donald Trump carries out his tariff threat.

This crusade is now noticed by the national press. Especially since the political crisis which is shaking the federal government – ​​after the resounding resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on December 16, a cabinet reshuffle four days later and the announcement on Monday of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who will resign from his functions as soon as another leader has been appointed – leaves a considerable political vacuum.

Occupying the presidency of the Council of the Federation until July, and aware of the force of the economic hurricane that could shake his province and the entire country in less than two weeks, the Prime Minister has chosen to take the lead, in concert with his provincial colleagues. He is also due to lead a mission from the provinces to Washington at the beginning of February.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is the only other provincial leader to have given interviews to American media to counter the threat of tariffs. But no one has taken to the front as much as Doug Ford in recent weeks, even including elected officials on the federal scene.

“You have to have a solid plan. There is a lack of leadership at the moment from the federal government. It takes someone to defend Ontario. It takes someone to defend Canada,” Mr. Ford said on Wednesday, passing through Darlington, east of Toronto, where he unveiled his “Fortress America-Canada” plan to dissuade the next administration from impose tariffs.

This plan proposes “a renewed strategic alliance” between Canada and the United States by focusing on the construction of large and small modular nuclear reactors to meet America’s growing demand for energy.