Canadians are applauding Ontario Premier Doug Ford after he enforced a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity to three U.S. states, in response to U.S.-imposed tariffs.
Ford made the announcement at Queen’s Park on Monday, alongside Ontario Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce.
“We’re moving forward with a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports for the 1.5 million American homes and businesses that Ontario powers… in Minnesota, Michigan, and New York,” Ford said, adding that it will cost state residents up to a total of $400,000 each day on average, which would add about $100 to their monthly energy bills.
The premier also assured that if the U.S. President Donald Trump planned to retaliate, he would take even more drastic measures, even threatening to pull the plug entirely.
“I will not hesitate to increase this charge if necessary,” he urged. “If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely.”
Ford pleaded that he did not want to hurt “hard-working” American people, even calling for an end to the trade war, but the premier insisted that the move is necessary to protect Ontarians.
“I feel terrible for the American people because it’s not the American people who started this trade war. It’s one person who’s responsible – that’s President Trump,” he said.
“I’d rather be working together… but as premier my number one job is to protect the people of Ontario and in hand, protect the people of Canada”
Lecce doubled down on Ford’s comments, adding that the effects of the surcharge would be reverberated beyond just the three states.
“They need our power… this is about maximizing pressure on America and minimizing the impacts on Ontario,” Lecce said.
“All of the states along the I-95, they can feel the pain too. And it’s regrettable we’re here, but we’re prepared to do this.”
The minister also assured that money accrued from the tariffs would be put back into the pockets of Ontario workers, families and businesses
Online, Canadians are reacting to the newly implemented fee.
“Excellent, we have to keep up the pressure until he backs down and leaves Canada alone,” one X user said.
“25% additional tax is too little… It should never be less than 35%,” another user said.
“I think it’s only fair,” another user wrote on the platform. “And Alberta should do the same about oil.”
