What to know
- On Monday, Ontario premier Doug Ford told CityNews reporters that he wants Carney to wait for the right deal, and not rush into just any deal with the United States.
- In recent weeks, Ford has been very vocal about Canada-U.S. relations, urging the two sides to go back to the negotiating table.
- Last week, Ford and Carney signed a $8.7 billion joint agreement to protect workers and industries affected by the tariffs.
Doug Ford wants Prime Minister Mark Carney to wait for the “right trade agreement” and not just any deal with the United States.
The premier made these comments at Queen’s Park on Monday to CityNews reporters after U.S. President Donald Trump floated the “concept of a very good deal with Canada” that is rumoured to erase tariffs for farmers and resurrect the Keystone XL pipeline.
“I wouldn’t be in favour of any deal, but the right fair trade agreement is what we’re looking for to protect our steel, protect our autoworkers, protect our manufacturing, aluminum,” Ford said.
The premier pointed to Canada’s position as the largest buyer of American-made vehicles as one of the reasons he’s so wary about a bad deal.
“We buy 400 per cent more cars off the U.S. than any other country in the world,” he added.
Ford also referenced former U.S. president Ronald Reagan, who famously signed a free trade agreement with then prime minister Brian Mulroney back in 1988.
“They should take a page out of Ronald Reagan’s book, that’s what they need to do,” he said.
In recent weeks, Ford has been extremely vocal regarding the ongoing trade talks between Canada and the U.S.,
Last Monday, just before he was set to meet with first ministers and Indigenous leaders, he told reporters he hoped Carney and Trump would return to the negotiating table soon.
“I’ve always said on American news that a tariff on Canada is nothing more than a tax on the American people, and I think President Trump’s feeling it, so let’s get back to the table and negotiate a fair [deal],” he said.
That same day, the Ontario and federal governments announced a joint action plan and $8.7 billion of investments to support and protect workers and industries affected by the U.S. tariffs and encourage long-term economic growth.
