Ontario pitches energy partnership with U.S. amid Trump's tariff, Canada annexation threat

In the face of incoming U.S. president Donald Trump’s threat to acquire Canada and impose tariffs, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to expand its energy supply both sides of the border.

In the face of incoming U.S. president Donald Trump’s threat to acquire Canada and impose tariffs, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to expand its energy supply both sides of the border.

“Together, let’s stop wasting time and ridiculous ideas about merging, and instead focus on efforts on restoring the pride of ‘Made in Canada’ and ‘Made in USA,’” Ford said at a Wednesday morning announcement at the Darlington Energy Complex, east of Toronto.

Ford has previously threatened to cut off Ontario-supplied electricity that is currently powering 1.5 million homes in New York, Michigan and Minnesota but only as a “last resort” should Trump push ahead with a threat to slap a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods.

He struck a more collaborative tone Wednesday, pitching an energy plan dubbed “Fortress Am-Cam,” that would rely upon, and build up, Ontario’s existing nuclear infrastructure to deliver more power south of the border as it “decouples from China and its global proxies.”

The plan would see the expansion of the existing electricity grid the two countries currently share, as well as streamlining the approval process for small modular and large nuclear reactors. Ford also suggested that a cross-border working group be set up to cut red tape and secure the system against foreign interference, cyber-attacks, terrorism, and extreme weather.

“Fortress Am-Can is a renewed alliance, a beacon of security, stability and growth. It’s a vision that respects each country as independent, celebrates what we can achieve together. A true partnership where Canada and the U.S. can align on key priorities – free, fair, and balanced trade, growing economies, advancing resource development and protecting our communities,” he said.

Wednesday’s announcement comes amid Trump’s ongoing threat to impose a 25 per cent tax on Canadian and Mexican goods on the day he takes office if the two countries don’t address what he described as the illegal flow of migrants and drugs across their borders. Many economists have warned that the effect could be particularly devastating for Ontario due to the nearly $500 billion in two-way trade between the province and the U.S. last year.