Ontario Premier Doug Ford won re-election to lead Canada’s most populous province on Thursday, giving him the mandate he wanted to fight tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump thinks he can break us,” Ford told a cheering crowd at a Toronto convention center. “He thinks he can divide and conquer, pit region against region. Donald Trump doesn’t know what we know.”
“Let me be clear. Canada will never, ever be the 51st state. Canada is not for sale,” he said.
Photo: Reuters
Unofficial results from Elections Ontario showed Ford’s Progressive Conservative Party would win a majority, giving him his third term as premier.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose Liberal Party would choose a new leader on March 9, congratulated Ford on his victory.
“At this crucial time, we must work together to defend Canadian interests, protect workers and businesses, and grow our economy,” Trudeau said in a statement.
Ford called the election on Jan. 29, more than a year early. The Conservatives already held a majority with 79 seats.
At the time, Ford said he needed a four-year mandate to protect Ontario, Canada’s manufacturing and automobile hub.
Trump has threatened to implement 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian imports, with a lower 10 percent levy on energy, beginning on Tuesday. He has also angered Canadians by talking about Canada becoming the 51st US state.
During his speech, Ford said during his time as premier he has shown he would work with anyone to achieve results.
“As we stare down the threat of Donald Trump’s tariffs, I will continue to do just that,” he said.
Jonathan Malloy, a political scientist at Carleton University in Ottawa, said the tariff threats gave Ford the excuse he needed to call an early election.
“Canadians are concerned with the Trump tariffs,” Malloy said. “Mr. Ford is being seen as being out front, responding to them. That’s politically advantageous for him.”
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