Ontario Premier Doug Ford has stood firm on his choice to launch an American ad campaign against tariffs, even after President Donald Trump suspended trade discussions with Canada in response. However, Ford announced that the ads would be paused starting Monday.
The advertisement includes a segment of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan discussing the negative impacts of tariffs, a segment that Trump criticized as “deceptive.” Ford’s office defended the ad, stating that the Reagan clip was unedited and publicly available.
Grace Lee, a spokesperson for the premier’s office, emphasized Reagan’s stance on tariffs, highlighting his support for free and fair trade between Canada and the U.S.
In a subsequent statement, the premier’s office reiterated the ad’s purpose but confirmed its temporary halt to facilitate trade talks. The $75 million campaign sparked backlash from Ford’s political opponents, with Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles criticizing Ford’s priorities and allocation of resources.
The Ontario Liberal Party also condemned the costly campaign, suggesting that the focus should be on addressing internal economic issues. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed satisfaction at the campaign suspension, while Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew voiced support for continuing the ads.
Unifor, a major trade union in Canada, praised Ford’s stance against punitive tariffs, emphasizing the need to defend domestic industries. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce echoed Ford’s message, emphasizing the harmful effects of tariffs.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Prime Minister’s Office are ongoing, following Trump’s decision to halt trade talks. Ottawa was notified of this decision just before Trump’s announcement on social media, according to a senior federal government source.