Summary
Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed that Prime Minister Mark Carney previewed the Ontario government’s anti-tariff TV ad — the same one that angered U.S. President Donald Trump and led to the suspension of Canada-U.S. trade talks. Despite the fallout, Ford said he stood by the ad’s message and impact before deciding to pull it off the air Monday.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has defended the province’s controversial anti-tariff TV ad, which triggered the Trump Canada trade freeze after angering former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ford confirmed that Prime Minister Mark Carney had previewed the commercial before it aired. The $75-million campaign, broadcast during the World Series, featured archival footage of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs.
According to Ford, the ad’s purpose was to promote free trade and challenge Trump’s “one-sided” trade agenda. Despite the backlash, he insisted that the message resonated with viewers, claiming it reached over 11 billion impressions across traditional and social media platforms.
Trump Responds with a Trade Freeze and Tariff Threat
Trump quickly denounced the ad as “fraudulent,” accusing the Ontario government of manipulating Reagan’s words. In retaliation, he suspended Canada-U.S. trade talks and threatened to impose a 10% tariff on Canadian goods — a move that effectively sparked the Trump Canada trade freeze.
Ford brushed off Trump’s threats, suggesting that the former president used the commercial as a pretext to stall negotiations.
Mixed Political Reactions Across Canada
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation criticized the ad, arguing that Reagan’s remarks were taken out of context. Political leaders across Canada were divided on the issue.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith urged diplomatic restraint to restore trade relations.
- B.C. Premier David Eby voiced support for Ford’s assertive approach, saying Canada must “stand up for fair trade.”
Meanwhile, former U.S. ambassador Kelly Craft warned that antagonizing Trump could backfire politically and economically.
Ontario Liberal MPP John Fraser accused Ford of leveraging the campaign to boost his personal political image, rather than focusing on protecting trade stability.
Ford Stands by His Message
Despite the controversy and the resulting Trump Canada trade freeze, Ford said he stands by the ad’s message and its impact. He acknowledged the decision to pull the ad off the air on Monday but maintained that it effectively highlighted Canada’s position on free and fair trade.