Just a few days after a fiery exchange with U. S. President Donald Trump, Ontario Premier Doug Ford encouraged board chairs in Ontario to steer clear of American companies. This comes as a recent survey shows an uptick in approval ratings for Ford and his Progressive Conservative party this month.
In a memo sent to the chairpersons and shared on social media platform X Wednesday morning, Ford highlighted their duty to back local businesses and adhere to the province’s Buy Ontario policies due to “unjustified tariff increases.”
“We can make the difference for a company that might otherwise be forced to close its doors or lay off employees as a result of these tariffs,” said Ford.
Approval for Ford’s Progressive Conservatives has rebounded following the breakdown of U. S.-Canada negotiations this month, giving the party a four-point edge over the Ontario Liberals among decided and leaning voters, according to a new survey by Liaison Strategies. The poll sampled 1,500 Ontarians randomly from Aug. 23 to 24 amid recent tariff developments.
Trade talks collapsed between the U. S. and Canada last week, leading to the U. S. imposing 50 percent tariffs Saturday on roughly $28 billion worth of Canadian products. Prime Minister Mark Carney subsequently vowed retaliatory tariffs in kind set for Sept 8.
While Ford’s own approval rating increased by 12 points this month, 61 percent of respondents still disapprove of his performance as premier, noted David Valentin, principal at Liaison Strategies.
“In other words, Ford is much less damaged than he was a month ago, but he is still deeply underwater. The party is in a better place than the Premier personally,” he said in a news release regarding the survey.
The shift in polling follows last month’s hotel expense scandal where several members of Toronto-area PC caucus faced criticism for expensing thousands of dollars for hotel stays in their own city. Ford stated that he did not approve that spending, was unaware of it, and instructed members to reimburse taxpayers for those costs.
However, that’s just one of several scandals over the past year, including Ford’s contentious decision earlier this year to buy then sell a private jet. Valentin mentioned that the latest survey still reveals that 72 percent of Ontarians believe the province is going in the wrong direction.
Nonetheless, he indicated that survey participants support tariff retaliation measures which gives Ford some leeway to take a strong stance against Trump. Valentin reported that 83 percent backed Canadian tariffs on American goods while 85 percent favored barring U. S. alcohol from LCBO stores until there’s an agreement reached.
Although current numbers seem favorable for Ford, he’s criticized unfavorable polling results recently. He even claimed that an Angus Reid Institute poll from June was “fake,” while his office asserted that July’s Liaison poll didn’t align with their findings or those from reputable polling firms. His office didn’t disclose what their findings were at that time.
Trump and Ford have cooled down after their heated exchanges
Earlier this week saw both leaders trading barbs online; with Ford telling Trump he could “kiss my ass,” while Trump referred to him as “Flunky Ford.” Trump even threatened on Truth Social Tuesday to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”
Ford mentioned during an interview with CNN Tuesday it would be wise to dial down personal attacks on the president and concentrate instead on returning to negotiation discussions.
While swatting away bees at a housing announcement event in Vaughan Wednesday, Ford joked they were probably “President Trump’s bee drones because they’re coming after me.”
At this event, Ford expressed his support forthe $7.5 billion federal aid announced Tuesdayand backed Carney’s efforts toward supporting businesses affected bythe trade conflict.“ I encourage [Carney]to keep workingwith usand goeven further top rotect workersand businesseswho arebeing hitbytariffs , ”hesaid , addingthatfederal government shouldconsider redirecting tariff funds t oimpacted sectorsande liminating federal greenhouse gas standardson vehicles toohelp businesses.He urged all levels ofgovernmentto“ act fast ”and pushfor changeto reduce tariff impactswhere possiblewithout“ dillydallying around ”bureaucracy.Ford said Carneydid therightthingnot acceptingadealwiththe U. S. thismonth , saying Americanofficials“ kept movingthegoalpost.”Ford readyto leadin restricting electricityto U. S.
Ford told The Associated Press Mondaythat “ everythingisonthetable” ifthe tradewar continues , including cuttingoffelectricityandcriticalmineralsfrom Ontariotothe U. S.
He reiteratedthose comments Wednesday , noting Ontario isn’ttheonlyprovinceproviding electricityto U. S. andh’ d behappyto leadthatapproachfrom Ontario.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chowsaidpremier hastodo “ whateverittakes”tostop uncertaintyand lossesonbothsidesoftheborder.
“ Wecannotcontinue tofightand destroyeachother’seconomyandpricesofeverythinggoingupispainful. So wehave t osolvethis,” shesaidininterviewwith CNNWednesday.
Carneyhasstatedhe doesn’t“ seevalue”inus ing Canadianenergyexportsasabargainingchipwiththe U. S.
Ford saidheand Alberta Premier Danielle Smith continuetodisagreeonwhether touse energyasleveragein tradenegotiationswith United States, butare unitedin pushingformore oilto flowwithin Canada, specificallya proposedpipelinefrom Albertato refineriesin Sarnia, O nt.
Source link
