Ontario Premier Doug Ford gave a graduation speech at a university in the U. S. on Saturday, discussing the strong bonds between Canadians and Americans, along with the dangers posed by tariffs.
Wearing a black cap and gown, Ford spoke to hundreds of graduates at Saginaw Valley State University’s (SVSU) commencement ceremony in University Center, Michigan, which is about 150 kilometers northwest of Detroit.
During his talk, Ford mentioned the strained relationship between Canada and the U. S., even quoting a former president.
“Just listen to what the great U. S. President Ronald Reagan had to say about countries that impose tariffs: ‘Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down and millions of people lose their jobs.’,” said Ford.
“That’s what we risk in the U. S. and Canada if we don’t get back to working together.”
He also shared experiences from his family’s printing business and his political journey to emphasize teamwork, relationships, and loyalty.
“These are the attributes that will make you succeed. Just as they made our two great countries succeed, working together for so many decades,” he said.
WATCH | Former U. S. President Ronald Reagan was featured in Ontario’s anti-tariff ad:
See the anti-tariff ad Doug Ford has been airing in the U. S.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government paid around $75 million to air this ad featuring remarks from former president Ronald Reagan on U. S. television stations – a move that has angered President Donald Trump.
His speech comes just months after the province spent $75 million on an anti-tariff ad campaign that led President Donald Trump to halt trade talks with Canada.
Trade discussions resumed last month when Canada-U. S. Trade Minister Dominic Le Blanc met with U. S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, D. C.
Ford also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from SVSU on Saturday.
The university’s president, George Grant Jr., referred to Ford as a friend and expressed gratitude for strengthening relations in the Great Lakes region on both sides of the border.
Premier Doug Ford addressed strained ties between Canada and the U. S., referencing trade talks while quoting former President Ronald Reagan on how tariffs affect everyday people.(Saginaw Valley State University)
The Ontario government recently passed an omnibus budget bill that included a retroactive FOI law designed to protect Ford along with cabinet members – preventing public access to documents related to them; this was partly aimed at halting ’s request for his cellphone records according to statements made by Ford himself during conversations following these developments.
In closing his address, Ford discussed how much “the relationship between our two bordering countries has been shaken over these past eighteen months”.
“Protectionism has never worked throughout history; it won’t work now,” he stated emphatically.
Praising existing connections within industries like auto manufacturing between Ontario & Michigan, Ford acknowledged those partnerships have faced significant challenges due specifically due t Tariffs & ongoing trade wars impacting both nations negatively.
You must go out into world striving toward principles centered upon teamwork , nurturing relationships built through loyalty. These same values helped forge strong bonds existing between US/Canada across multiple generations explained further by Mr. Ford. “ Our economies remain intricately linked ; there’s no way we can unscramble such eggs without making omelets bigger !” Saginaw Valley State University stands tall since its establishment back during ‘63 serving public interests up until present day.
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See the anti-tariff ad Doug Ford has been airing in the U. S.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government paid around $75 million to air this ad featuring remarks from former president Ronald Reagan on U. S. television stations – a move that has angered President Donald Trump.
His speech comes just months after the province spent $75 million on an anti-tariff ad campaign that led President Donald Trump to halt trade talks with Canada.
Trade discussions resumed last month when Canada-U. S. Trade Minister Dominic Le Blanc met with U. S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, D. C.
Ford also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from SVSU on Saturday.
The university’s president, George Grant Jr., referred to Ford as a friend and expressed gratitude for strengthening relations in the Great Lakes region on both sides of the border.
Canada-U. S. relationship has been ‘shaken and undermined’: Ford
reached out to SVSU regarding why Ford was chosen as commencement speaker and for more details about his honorary doctorate. Ford himself addressed why “a Canadian politician is [in Michigan] today delivering [U. S. students their] commencement address.” “Like many Canadians, I’ve spent years living and working in the United States,” he noted, mentioning he spent 20 years building his family’s printing business in Chicago. Ford credited his brother Rob for helping him enter politics and for inspiring his cellphone policy. “Rob would answer calls day or night from constituents as councillor and mayor.” He added that this kind of openness has also contributed to his success in politics.
Premier Doug Ford addressed strained ties between Canada and the U. S., referencing trade talks while quoting former President Ronald Reagan on how tariffs affect everyday people.(Saginaw Valley State University)
The Ontario government recently passed an omnibus budget bill that included a retroactive FOI law designed to protect Ford along with cabinet members – preventing public access to documents related to them; this was partly aimed at halting ’s request for his cellphone records according to statements made by Ford himself during conversations following these developments.In closing his address, Ford discussed how much “the relationship between our two bordering countries has been shaken over these past eighteen months”.
“Protectionism has never worked throughout history; it won’t work now,” he stated emphatically.
Praising existing connections within industries like auto manufacturing between Ontario & Michigan, Ford acknowledged those partnerships have faced significant challenges due specifically due t Tariffs & ongoing trade wars impacting both nations negatively.
You must go out into world striving toward principles centered upon teamwork , nurturing relationships built through loyalty. These same values helped forge strong bonds existing between US/Canada across multiple generations explained further by Mr. Ford. “ Our economies remain intricately linked ; there’s no way we can unscramble such eggs without making omelets bigger !” Saginaw Valley State University stands tall since its establishment back during ‘63 serving public interests up until present day.
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