Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Monday addressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to resign as federal Liberal leader in a statement that did not mention Trudeau by name or mention his intention to resign.
Instead, Ford focused on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods heading south of the border and Ottawa’s need for political stability.
“In two weeks, the president-elect will be sworn in as the next president of the United States and will have every opportunity to make his threats a reality,” Ford said.
“Between now and then, the federal government must do everything humanly possible to avoid these tariffs, including increasing border security efforts and “This includes presenting a credible plan to increase investment in the Canadian Armed Forces to meet and exceed NATO spending commitments.”
Ford echoed those comments at a press conference Monday afternoon, saying he is “100 per cent focused on tariffs” and that if tariffs are introduced, Canada will have to “retaliate” and “retaliate harshly.” he added.
“It’s going to have a negative impact on American jobs, and it’s going to have a negative impact on Canadian jobs,” Ford said.
The prime minister also said Trudeau’s focus in the coming weeks should be on the tariff outlook, not the federal Liberal Party itself.
Late Monday, Premier Ford said in a letter to the prime minister that his first in-person cabinet meeting will be held the week of January 13 to discuss a unified approach to U.S.-Canada relations in light of potential U.S. tariffs. asked to do so.
“Now more than ever, it is important that Canada demonstrates stability, strength and unity,” Ford wrote.
Ford said the “Canadian team’s united approach to our relationship with the United States” allows the country to respond quickly and in a coordinated manner.
prime minister resigns
Prime Minister Trudeau said at a news conference Monday morning that he would resign once his party selects a replacement. Prime Minister Trudeau also asked Governor Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament until March 24, and said she had accepted the request.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that I am not the best choice in that election if we have to fight a domestic struggle,” he told reporters. spoke.
On Monday afternoon, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s biggest focus before he leaves office is developing a plan to avert President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had come under increasing pressure to resign amid declining poll numbers and growing calls for him to resign from a faction within his own Liberal caucus.
It is not clear if or when voters will head to the polls for the federal election ahead of a fixed date in October. But both the Conservative Party and the NDP have said they would vote to topple the government if given the chance.
“The interests of Canadian workers and their families must come before politics and party ambitions,” Ford said in a statement.
“Canada needs to demonstrate stability and strength at this critical moment, and the federal government must urgently explain to Canadians how to avoid tariffs that could have a devastating impact on the economy,” he said. I have to do it.”
In a statement, provincial Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie called for the return of the provincial legislature and the creation of an “all-party committee” to help Ontario respond to President Trump’s threats.
“In the interest of this state, in the coming months we should put aside our partisanship and work together to block, or if necessary withstand, President Trump’s tariffs,” she said. “That would be the responsible thing to do.”
Ontario election plans unclear
Ford and Trudeau have worked closely together on several major deals in recent years, including securing multibillion-dollar deals for battery factories and electric vehicle manufacturing in Ontario, but he and other Conservative premiers The relationship has become increasingly strained.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s announcement and subsequent uncertainty surrounding the possibility of an early federal election could impact the political landscape in Ontario.
Throughout the second half of 2024, Ford repeatedly signaled that he might send Ontario voters to the polls this spring, more than a year before the next fixed election date of June 2026. It’s unclear how the turmoil in Ottawa will affect Ford’s thinking. Get Ontarians to the polls early to secure a third mandate.
Mr. Ford did not directly answer repeated questions about the outlook for the state election at a news conference Monday, reiterating that the outlook for tariffs will be a focus for premiers across the country.
“We have a strong group of prime ministers who will continue to move this country forward.”
Crombie said in a statement that this is “a time for stability, not political posturing.”
“will” [Ford] “Keep to a fixed election date and reject any plan to seek power for power’s sake instead of focusing on Ontario’s economy and what people actually need,” she said. asked.
