This announcement comes four weeks after Prime Minister Ford threatened to cut electricity supplies to certain American states, in retaliation against Donald Trump’s plan to impose 25% customs duties on Canadian products.
“With a new administration ready to take office at the White House, our government has an ambitious plan to strengthen the America-Canada fortress,” said Prime Minister Ford during a press conference in Darlington on Wednesday.
Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on Canada and Mexico because he wants his neighbors to the south and north to tighten their border security measures.
This “fortress” that Doug Ford is proposing, which aims to increase economic relations between Ontario and the United States, is therefore one of the measures he foresees to face the threat of Donald Trump.
The province hopes to improve the integrated energy and electricity network of Canada and the United States and establish cross-border working groups with expertise in energy and security to achieve this, among other things.
“We can only achieve this by working together and respecting each other,” said Doug Ford.
This “Am-Can fortress” should be powered by energy of all types that are produced and consumed by both countries, including that which comes from Ontario’s existing nuclear fleet and its small modular reactors, proposes the province.
Ridiculous Ideas
“Let’s stop wasting time and having ridiculous ideas like fusion [du Canada et des États-Unis] and instead focus on efforts to restore pride in “made in Canada” and “made in the USA”,” he insisted.
-Doug Ford refers to Donald Trump’s proposal to make Canada the 51st state of the United States.
“I am always concerned when a president of the most powerful country in the world makes such statements. But that will not happen, and we will make sure to work collaboratively, alongside the elected representatives of the United States,” repeated the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.
Lack of leadership
The Ontario Prime Minister also explained at a press briefing that he feels the need to speak to the public on behalf of Canada, since there is “a lack of leadership currently in the federal government, and someone must defend Ontario, someone has to defend Canada.
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced his resignation on Monday. He will leave office as soon as a successor to the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada is chosen.
In recent weeks, Premier Ford’s office has mounted a broad advertising and media campaign to publicize the “strong” economic partnership between Canada, Ontario and the United States.
Later Wednesday, Doug Ford, who chairs the Council of the Federation, will meet virtually with his provincial and territorial counterparts to discuss the Trump threat and the next steps to take after Mr. Trudeau leaves office.
On January 15, the latter plans to convene the prime ministers for an in-person meeting in Ottawa to discuss the tariff crisis.
