The province might must spend ‘tens of billions’ to take care of the financial fallout, requiring a brand new electoral mandate: Ford
EDITOR’S NOTE: This text initially appeared on The Trillium, a Village Media web site devoted completely to overlaying provincial politics at Queen’s Park.
Premier Doug Ford additional fuelled election hypothesis on Wednesday by saying he’d should “put tens of billions of dollars” into the economic system if the incoming United States president hits Canada with extended tariffs — however that he presently doesn’t have the electoral mandate to try this.
“These tariffs are coming,” Ford mentioned at a press convention on Wednesday morning, the place he pitched higher integration of the vitality and electrical energy grid with the USA.
“Are they going to come like they did last time for five or six weeks? That’s one thing. But if they last for months and months, we’re going to have to do the same thing as what we did during the pandemic,” the premier mentioned.
“I’m going to have to put tens of billions of dollars into the economy, to save the economy, to protect Canadian, Ontario jobs. And I don’t have a mandate from the people to spend tens of billions of dollars.”
His feedback come as president-elect Donald Trump prepares to enter the White Home on Jan. 20, armed with the specter of slapping a 25-per-cent tariff on all Canadian merchandise, and a day after Trump mentioned he’d be open to utilizing “economic force” to compel Canada into becoming a member of the U.S.
In addition they comply with the announcement on Monday from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he would step down as get together chief and as prime minister as soon as a brand new Liberal chief is chosen, and that the federal Parliament can be prorogued till March 24.
Talking to reporters after the prime minister’s announcement, Ford known as on Trudeau to “continue doing his job” and keep centered on combating the U.S. tariff risk. Trudeau is scheduled to fulfill with Canada’s premiers on Jan. 15.
However the premier wouldn’t rule out calling a provincial election throughout the federal prorogation.
“Well, I can tell you, my main focus is these tariffs,” he mentioned on Monday when requested to rule out calling an election throughout that point.
Opposition events got here out swinging in opposition to the premier’s remarks on Wednesday and his suggestion of needing a mandate to spend billions.
“That’s just a load of hooey,” in response to Liberal MPP John Fraser.
“Doug Ford has one of the strongest majorities in Ontario history,” he advised reporters within the Queen’s Park media studio after Ford’s feedback. “The reason that Doug Ford wants an election is not for Ontario families, is not to get a consensus on people — it’s so that he will get a longer mandate.”
NDP chief Marit Stiles mentioned Ontarians “don’t need the instability of an election right now.”
“But if Ford wants to go, we’re ready,” she mentioned in a press release.
Stiles mentioned she’s taking Trump’s threats significantly and is “ready to work with anyone, including the premier, if it means we don’t lose a single job in key industries like auto, dairy and forestry.”
Fraser known as on Ford to recall the legislature and create an all-party committee to deal with the specter of tariffs, much like the all-hands-on-deck strategy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“And I heard the premier mentioned COVID in his remarks this morning, and I’m encouraged by that, in the sense that it sounds like he wants to work together, but the proof will be in the pudding,” Fraser mentioned.
Standing alongside Minister of Power and Electrification Stephen Lecce on the Darlington nuclear facility, Ford touted a provincial plan to spice up “Am-Can energy security and power economic growth” in each Canada and the U.S.
He mentioned this was a “cornerstone of fortress Am-Can,” framed as a renewed alliance between the 2 international locations.
Whereas the province powers 1.5 million properties within the U.S., Ford mentioned there’s greater than could be achieved.
“Fortress Am-Can should be powered by Am-Can energy of every type that’s produced, consumed and creates jobs in every region of both countries,” he mentioned.
He known as for the creation of cross-border working teams with Canadian and U.S. lawmakers and consultants to align rules and eliminate purple tape for constructing vitality infrastructure, in addition to to make sure each international locations are following finest practices to guard in opposition to cyber assaults, international interference or weather-related issues relating to energy programs.
Ford additionally requested the federal authorities to hurry up approval of “new small, modular and large nuclear reactors.”
The province additionally desires to see a lift to the province’s manufacturing of “cancer-fighting medical isotopes at Ontario’s growing fleet of nuclear reactors.”
Trump has known as on Canada to spice up safety on the borders and crack down on unlawful drug trafficking.
Ontario introduced “Operation Deterrence” on Tuesday, which would come with an emergency response workforce of 200 Ontario Provincial Cops and different “front-line and specialty officers.” The federal authorities has promised its personal measures, together with 24/7 surveillance, using drones and helicopters and a joint “strike force” to deal with organized crime.
Ford, who spoke with different premiers on a name on Wednesday afternoon, harassed that the 2 international locations can obtain extra by working collectively and slammed Trump’s thought of Canada turning into a part of the U.S.
“Let’s stop wasting time on ridiculous ideas about merging and instead focus on efforts on restoring the pride of made-in-Canada and made-in USA,” he mentioned, including in response to a query that the governors and members of Congress he’s spoken with don’t agree with Trump’s proposals.
“Our country is not for sale. It will never be for sale,” he mentioned.
