Ontario Premier Doug Ford has vowed to sever electricity exports to the US, originally proposed as retaliation against prospective American tariffs. His promise to take drastic measures if President Donald Trump follows through on a proposed 25% tariff on Canadian goods has been met with questions about whether punishing border states would ultimately damage Ontario more than it would influence federal policy in Washington.
Ford’s remarks at a recent mining convention in Toronto underscored his intent to respond forcefully, warning that he would turn off the power “with a smile on my face” if tariffs come into play.
He also hinted at a range of other reprisals, including blocking the export of nickel and pulling American liquor off provincial store shelves.
“They rely on our energy, they need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard, we’re going to come back twice as hard,” he declared.
Over 30TW-hours of Canadian electricity were sold to American markets last year alone, generating billions in revenue for provinces like Quebec and Ontario. Threatening to cut this flow risks provoking retaliatory measures from the US, such as a halt to hosting services on American-based cloud platforms, as well as disruptions to the oil supply passing through Enbridge Line 5, which transports crucial energy resources for Ontario.
Ford has also proposed a “Buy Ontario” policy to spur domestic procurement and manufacturing, insisting municipalities will join the movement under potential new legislation.
“I know all 444 municipalities are on board, but we’re going to make sure we legislate it—that you’re buying Ontario first, Canada second,” he said.
Standing firm, Ford emphasized Monday that no option is off the table and said he would gladly match tariffs “dollar for dollar.” He even threatened to cancel a major deal with Elon Musk’s private company SpaceX, suggesting any American entity relying on Ontario’s goodwill could be targeted.
Nevertheless, observers note that Trump’s repeated shift of deadlines for imposing tariffs has left Canadian officials scrambling to respond. In his defense, Ford has stated he did not spark the tariff dispute but is determined to defend Ontario’s interests.
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario,” Ford said, “I will do everything—including cut off their energy.”
The 25% tariff on Canadian exports to US is scheduled to take effect today, March 4.
Information for this briefing was found via Toronto Sun, Unusual Whales, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
