Captain Canada to the rescue: how Doug Ford stood up to Donald Trump

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been dubbed "Captain Canada" by some for his firm stance against U.S. President Donald Trump. Ford is notably the first Canadian politician to decisively challenge Trump on significant matters.

Ford's bold move

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

In a significant policy shift, Doug Ford imposed a 25% tariff on all electrical exports from the province to the United States back on March 10th. A decision that if it had gone through would have had a very negative impact on Americans and it made Trump livid.

A 25% surcharge on electricity

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

According to CBC News, Ford claimed that the 25% surcharge would affect 1.5 million Americans in the three states Ontario provides electrical power—New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin—and he added that it would cost them a lot of money. 

Generating revenue for Ontario

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

Ford claimed the new surcharge would generate an estimated $300,000 to $400,000, money which he said would be used to help Ontarians struggling with the effects of Trump’s tariffs on Canada. However, it was not an action Ford wanted to take. 

“I do not want to do this”

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

"Believe me when I say I do not want to do this," Ford said during a press conference on March 10th. "I feel terrible for the American people, because it's not the American people who started this trade war."

Trump is responsible

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

“It's one person who's responsible, that's President Trump," Ford added. Laying the blame for the growing trade war on the US President. Ford estimated that the surcharge would add roughly $100 extra dollars to the power bills of those affected. 

Ontario won’t remove its measures

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

Ontario Energy Minister Steven Leeche also revealed during the press conference that the new surcharge would not be removed until Trump removed all of the tariffs imposed on Canada. "Until these tariffs are off the table… Ontario will not relent,” he said. 

Trump responded

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

Trump initially responded to the situation on Truth Social in a long-winded rant about how Canada was a tariff abuser. He also made it clear that he would react to Ford’s surcharge. However, it was unclear how the President would respond at that time. 

An angry Truth Social post

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

“Despite the fact that Canada is charging the USA from 250% to 390% Tariffs on many of our farm products, Ontario just announced a 25% surcharge on ‘electricity,’ of all things, and your not even allowed to do that,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

Raising tariffs on Canada

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

“Because our Tariffs are reciprocal, we'll just get it all back on April 2. Canada is a Tariff abuser, and always has been, but the United States is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer. We don't need your Cars, we don't need your Lumber, we don't your Energy, and very soon, you will find that out,” Trump added. 

More tariffs on steel and aluminum

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

"I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD," Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social according to CTV News. 

Going into effect March 12th

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

“This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th,” Trump continued. He went on to say he was declaring a national emergency over electricity and added that if Canada did not remove its tariffs, he would increase US tariffs even further on April 2nd. 

Promising even worse retaliation

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

“If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada,” Trump wrote.

Steel and aluminum imports from Canada

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

Trump’s increase in steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada represented another major escalation in his on-again-off-again trade war against America’s northern neighbor, CBC reported. However, this escalation is likely poised to hurt the United States as much as Canada. 

What the US gets from Canada

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

According to figures the US Census Bureau quoted by The Globe and Mail, Canada is the largest exporter of steel and aluminum to the United States. Canada exported $11.4 billion dollars of steel to the US in 2024 and $13 billion dollars of aluminum. 

How will this affect the future?

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

How a 50% tariff of roughly $25 billion dollars worth of steel and aluminum would affect the US economy has yet to be seen, but it is likely that Canadian steel and aluminum producers would begin seeking out new markets while the United States would be left in the lurch. 

Things appear poised to get worse

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

Whether or not Trump will continue to escalate his trade war against Canada on April 2nd is also unclear. However, with markets tanking and fears of a recession growing, Trump could end up hurting his country more than Canada. 

Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

Canadians will never forget how he angered Trump, Ford's bold move, A 25% surcharge on electricity, Generating revenue for Ontario, “I do not want to do this”, Trump is responsible, Ontario won’t remove its measures, Trump responded, An angry Truth Social post, Raising tariffs on Canada, More tariffs on steel and aluminum, Going into effect March 12th, Promising even worse retaliation, Steel and aluminum imports from Canada, What the US gets from Canada, How will this affect the future?, Things appear poised to get worse, Ontario suspended its electricity surcharge

Following Trump’s response, Ontario reportedly temporarily suspended its electricity surcharge on the United States. CTV News reported that Ford and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick issued a joint statement noting Ford would travel to Washington to meet with Lutnick on March 13th.

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