Canadian Ontario premier warns to cut power supply if Trump hikes tariffs

OTTAWA: Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated Thursday that Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, could cut off electricity to the United States if President-elect Donald Trump imposes steep tariffs on Canadian goods.

Ford called the move a last resort. “Let’s hope that never comes to that point, let’s hope we can get through this trade deal,” he said.

Ford and other provincial and territorial leaders met virtually with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for about 90 minutes Wednesday to discuss Trump’s threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican imports unless both countries stop illegal immigration and the smuggling of the opioid fentanyl into U.S. territory.

“We will go to the full extent, depending on how far this goes, we will go to the extent of cutting off their energy, going down to Michigan, going down to New York State and over to Wisconsin,” Ford said. “I don’t want this to happen, but my number one job is to protect Ontario, Ontarians and Canadians as a whole since we are the largest province.”

According to Statistics Canada, Ontario exported 13.9 million megawatt-hours of electricity to the United States in 2023, or about 13 percent of Canada’s overall power exports to American customers.

Ford said it will be up to each province to decide whether they want to follow suit with a similar move, and the premiers are set to meet again Sunday and throughout next week.

Local media said the Canadian government is also considering an export tax on high-demand exports to the United States such as oil, uranium and potash as a means of dissuading Trump from imposing tariffs.

-Xinhua