Ontario residents are reacting to Ontario PC party leader Doug Ford’s latest election campaign ad, with some saying his pursuit of Trump is distracting from his role as a provincial leader.
In the one-minute video posted on X on Wednesday, Ford begins by reminding viewers about the looming threat of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports and aluminum and steel.
“I’ve always been straight with you,” Ford says, looking down the barrel of the lens.
“Donald Trump’s tariffs would devastate our economy,” he continues.
This election is about who we are and what we stand for. So let me be clear: Canada will never be the 51st state. Canada is not for sale.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) February 19, 2025
Together, we’ll protect Ontario. pic.twitter.com/E7iuESK2fI
For the remainder of the ad, Ford reiterates his promise to protect jobs, restructure the economy, diversify trade, and his desire to solidify a mandate from the electorate, before circling back to the U.S. president.
“Let’s be clear, Canada will never be the 51st state, Canada is not for sale, and together we will protect Ontario,” he concludes.
“Canada is not for sale” became Ford’s election slogan after he wore a navy blue baseball cap with the phrase printed on it, in a similar style to MAGA merchandise, during a press conference before the election campaign began.
But, Canadians are criticizing Ford’s focus on President Trump, saying he should redirect his interests towards issues in the province.
“Doug, you are NOT the Prime Minister. Please stop playing “PRETEND.” It is very unbecoming. A province does NOT speak for a Nation. As a matter of fact, you will not be speaking for Ontario hopefully after the next election,” one X user wrote.
“You want to expropriate farm land to give to wealthy foreign enterprises. What the f**k do you mean this country is not for sale,?” another person said, referring to the Ford government’s controversial decision to open protected Greenbelt lands in the province for housing development, which was later reversed.
“That’s cool, can I ride my bike without being run over?,” someone else wrote, referencing Ford’s plan to remove bike lanes from Boor St., Yonge St. and University Ave. in Toronto.
Last year, the government also passed Bill 212, which requires municipalities to request permission from the government to build bike lanes that require removing a car lane.
Read More
Ontarians will cast their votes on Feb. 27.
By signing up, I agree to receive emails from Now Toronto and to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
