It took just one meeting with Lutnick to reverse his strong stance and start saying:
Mr. Ford insisted Mr. Lutnick somehow wants to “boost up” Canada, despite Mr. Trump’s repeated threats of annexation and tariffs that could cripple Canada’s U.S.-trade-dependent economy.
…
“They aren’t coming into our country to take over, I’ll tell you that,” Mr. Ford said. “I kind of flip this around. What a compliment. We’ll never be a 51st state. Canada’s not for sale. But isn’t it nice that someone thinks we have the greatest country world, and they want access?”
…
The Premier’s comments follow last week’s high-stakes trade drama, in which he backed down from imposing a 25-per-cent surcharge on his province’s electricity exports to the U.S. Mr. Ford’s move prompted a vehement reaction from Mr. Trump, who immediately threatened to double the 25-per-cent duties he was about to impose on Canadian steel and aluminum.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-trump-tariffs-doug-ford-response/
“I need to call a snap election so I have a clear mandate to fight back hard against American aggression.”
and then, after the election:
“It’s not aggression, really. They hit us because they love us. We shouldn’t make them do that.”
They hit us because they love us.
dark
What matters is reaction after April 2, and so this posturing now may not matter, as long as a mission to win the trade war is adopted after “harsh US tariffs on April 2”
Winning the trade war is saving the Canadian auto industry, including ensuring Canadian auto production during the trade war. This can be done by making US energy and materials more expensive through export tariffs, and using export tariff revenue to subsidize materials and energy to Canadian/Ontario manufacturing. Pausing all military cooperation, and election interference/foreign policy propaganda, with US.
If resistance is just gaslighting, and Ford/Canada is willing to sacrifice auto industry, pivoting to China for better value cars, including FDI by China for charging infrastructure, or even better factories, must be a threat to US/auto industry to never sell another vehicle in Canada if they don’t do the right thing.
Inflicting maximum pain on US economy, while helping Canadians, is only path to make trade war short, or affecting US midterms, if US depression is ignored.
Ultimately, yes. But I don’t think the self appointed trade negotiator for Ontario performing an about-face on language (and the threat to add an export surcharge on electricity exports) helps national resolve.
Inflicting maximum pain on US economy, while helping Canadians, is only path to make trade war short, or affecting US midterms, if US depression is ignored.
Agreed. That’s why I was surprised to see Ford back down on the energy surcharge so quickly. I’m really curious what happened during Ford’s meeting with Lutnick. I’m assuming Ford got schooled, but it’s hard to know. Regardless, he’s certainly changed his tune.
article does say Ford “is keeping electricity export tax on the table”. Everyone cowering to Trump seems to be the tactic for now for whole world. April 2 reaction is the important time to see if they stand up.
I’m really curious what happened during Ford’s meeting with Lutnick.
There was article detailing that posted here. It was extremely embarassing. Good cop Lutnick making sweet nothing promises that bad cop Trump is not bound to. Ford looking naive for praising it, but again, reaction april 2 all that matters.
I always hated Ford UNTIL he wanted to fight back. Now he’s shown he’s a big a pussy as Trump is.
Fuck Ford.
Nothing new there. Hating Trump was such theatre, dude was just trying to save face for getting caught being a trump fanboy. No idea why people voted for the moron, but a lot of them are the same people crying about handouts and wasteful spending that cashed a $200 cheque from the guy.
I’m drowning in a sea of morons.
Lol, that was short lived. Just a reminder that PP will do the same, he will talk big before the election and then cave first chance he gets.
There’s the Ford we know 🙄
Yeah, I was worried I was starting to like him for a minute there.
“The people have spoken! We won’t touch the Greenbelt!” - DoFo campaigning in 2018
How long till American booze is back on the shelves you reckon?
When Ford shows his utter weakness and corruption and caves, we will have to maintain our own boycotts of US goods and services.
And didn’t Doug Ford just tell us that the USA is preparing to tariff the whole world? In which case Canada wouldn’t be at such a disadvantage and other countries would be incentivized to trade with us. So logically there’s even less reason to appease the USA now. By caving Ford just betrays Canada.
I will continue to boycott American made stuff, and as much as possible American products.
till
'til ?
Yes
But he got such a strong mandate! /s
and thats why he caved. Got in by standing up for the usa, but he has ANOTHER 4 years
This is the sort of thing that should be blasted on every Ontarian news channel. This is the guy that rural Ontarians voted for and said was doing a “good enough job”.
People should know what the person they voted for is doing and how he’s spending their tax money, because this entire trip was also paid for on our dime.
What the hell happened at that meeting where he’s gone from threatening to shut off electricity to “it’s a compliment” they want to annex us?
Fuck off, we already tried giving them what they want, they changed it.
Easy, he won his reelection playing the scrappy Canadian fighter. Now it’s time to make deals and reap the rewards.
My guess is lots and lots of bribery.
Maybe Lutnick said he could be governor of the territory of Quebtario after the tanks roll in.
I’m 99% joking. 😬
From a spineless coward to a traitor huh?
Not really a surprise, but still quite disappointing. We should be strengthening our stance, not folding like a wet towel. The fact that he’s adding fabric softener and ironing in the meantime is is just plain pathetic.
DoFo proving once again that he doesn’t give one rat’s ass about Ontarians, only about enriching the already wealthy and sucking Republican dick.
A tiger can’t change its stripes. Too bad Ontarians forgot that during their last election.
Face-eating leopards and tigers are running rampant there now and I have little sympathy left for ON.
And all the courage is gone. I liked him much better as a fighter.
Only for the cameras.
Nutlick. It’s pronounced nutlick and that’s exactly what Fords doing.
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal
“No one else was in the room where it happens.”
deleted by creator
When dealing with other rich dudes? Bribes.
