Ford not focused on Ontario snap election amid U.S. tariff threat, federal turmoil

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he's focused on fighting a proposed tariff threat from incoming U.S. president Donald Trump, not an early snap election, amid ongoing turmoil political on Parliament Hill.

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Ford appeared on Newstalk 580 CFRA's The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll on Tuesday morning and spoke on a looming threat from Trump to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all imports from Canada after his inauguration in less than two weeks.

"Is your mind looking at your mandate and what you need looking forward to take on Donald Trump?" Carroll asked Ford.

Ford replied: "I'm 100 per cent focused on a tariff deal right now nothing else is on my mind but the tariff deal and I'm going to continue to move forward leading with the support of all the people of Ontario and support of all the premiers."

Ford has repeatedly refused say whether he would stick to the 2026 fixed election date for months. He again did not rule out the possibility with reporters on Monday shortly after Trudeau announced his resignation.

Trudeau's announcement on Monday that he would step down as party leader and prime minister has set off speculation that a federal election could come as soon as early spring, with opposition parties vowing to vote against the government on the next confidence motion.

Ford has been one of the most vocal premiers expressing his opposition to Trump's proposed tariffs. For weeks, Trump has mocked Canada by referring to the prime minister as "Governor Justin Trudeau" and calling Canada "the 51st state." Ford jokingly snapped back at Trump on Monday, saying he would make a "counteroffer" with the president-elect and buy Alaska, Minnesota and Minneapolis.

"It will never happen, [Trump] has to get off his pedestal and he needs to start focusing on this deal because a 25 per cent tariff, and we retaliate, is going to hurt Americans as much as it hurts Canadians," Ford said.

Ford said the prime minister's resignation has “left us in a tough position" but said him and other premiers are united against the threat of tariffs and are hoping to meet with Trudeau this week. He says he expects federal officials to remain focused on the tariff threat.

"We expect him to fulfill his duties up until the day he walks out that door and we need a meeting," Ford said.

Trump has said the only way to avoid the tariff is if Canada stems the flow of drugs and migrants at the border. He also wants Canada to commit to two per cent NATO defence spending.

Ford ruled out the possibility of negotiating a deal only for Ontario.

"Canada comes first and our priority is to make sure we have a fair-trade deal and build a Can-Am fortress," he said.

"He's not going to play fair, he's going to put these tariffs on and we have to retaliate and we have to retaliate hard."   

Some residents in Ottawa didn't even want to entertain the idea of Canada joining the U.S.

"I think that's a terrible idea," said Alexandra Harris. "Canadians are Canadians and we should remain so."

"Personally I don't think it's probably the greatest idea. I like Canada being a little independent from the United States," said Joshua Maguire.

"I just think it's another, you know, show thing for him. It doesn't really make any sense. I doubt he believes it himself," said Neil Macaskill.