As Trump's tariffs become a reality, Ontario's party leaders pitch plans to respond
Opposition leaders criticize Ford for calling election amid grave economic threat
With U.S. President Donald Trump making good on his promise to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods, Ontario's party leaders are pitching their ideas for how they'd cushion the crippling blow to the province's economy if elected on Feb. 27.
Trump is imposing a 25 per cent tariff on most goods from the U.S.'s neighbour and a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy products, according to a senior Canadian official who shared details of Trump's plan with CBC News.
Earlier in the day, Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford pledged to spend billions to protect Ontario workers and businesses from the unprecedented economic threat.
"I'm prepared to do whatever is necessary, whatever it takes," he said at a campaign event in Brampton where he fed a sign with the word "tariffs" on it into a crushing machine.
The PCs have promised to invest $1 billion in a skills development fund for autoworkers to transition to a different trade and another $100 million for an employment fund to help workers who are vulnerable to trade disputes transition to "in-demand" jobs.
Ford has also said his party would spend more than $22 billion on various projects across multiple industries to help those employed in manufacturing and construction.
NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the party is working on an income protection plan to help people whose jobs are at risk due to the tariffs, as well as job creation opportunities.
"We have to be ready to care for people when the storm hits," Stiles said Saturday during an interview with Fresh Air host Ismaila Alfa.
Stiles said the party is looking at different options for what that plan would entail.
Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said Saturday her party's plan to handle the fallout from the tariffs will include initiatives to increase Canada-U.S. border security — something Trump has used as one reason for imposing tariffs — while diversifying Ontario's economy, the details of which will be unveiled in the coming days.
In a statement, the Green Party says it would establish a Buy Ontario strategy and a dedicated fund for businesses hardest hit by tariffs, while working with other provinces to remove interprovincial trade barriers.
"In the face of these tariffs, we need a team Ontario approach that puts people before partisan politics to protect Ontario jobs, workers and companies," said Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.
WATCH | How Ontario's party leaders plan to deal with U.S. tariffs:
Ford criticized for early election call
Ontario's NDP, Liberal and Green party leaders have all criticized Ford for calling an early election, saying the decision has hampered the province's ability to respond to the promised U.S. tariffs that could cripple the Canadian economy.
At the start of an election, Ontario's legislature is dissolved and does not conduct business, but the premier and cabinet members remain in place and are expected to exercise caution around their government roles.
Stiles accused Ford of calling an early election for his own political gain.
"I think that Doug Ford, by calling this election, has shown that he's only in it for one job," Stiles said Saturday.
Crombie made similar statements Saturday, saying Ford should be "at his desk protecting us" instead of campaigning for re-election.
"He's roaming around the province because he called an unnecessary and expensive election so he could protect his own job. There is not another premier in this country that would do that," Crombie said.
But Ford said he is prepared to launch a strong response to the tariffs from the campaign trail.
"We want to make sure that we're there to protect everyone's backs here in Ontario and fight these tariffs," Ford said.
Ford said he will remain on duty as premier and plans to fly to Washington, D.C. twice during the provincial election to push back in-person against Trump's tariffs in his capacity as the head of the premier's group, the Council of the Federation
Ford said the Progressive Conservative Party will pay for the trips and not the Ontario government. He has also insisted that calling an election would not mean he was taking his eye off the brewing trade war.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Mike Crawley