Staff ReportsIn a bout of political posturing that could have easily been scripted for a reality TV show, Doug Ford, Canada’s Ontario Premier, threatened to turn off the energy spigot to the United States if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his proposed tariffs. The tariffs, which Trump has ominously suggested could reach 25% on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico, have sparked a flap that would make even the most serene Canadian break into an apologetic sweat.
Ford, after a chin-wag with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other provincial leaders, vowed to use “every tool in the toolbox”—a phrase that conjures visions of frantic DIY projects gone awry. The Premier’s comments led one to wonder if the toolbox included power tools or just empty threats. With approximately 60% of U.S. crude oil imports and a whopping 85% of electricity imports sourced from Canada, a turning off of the energy taps would certainly send ripples through the U.S. economy, even if it also risks leaving Ontarians in the dark.
Oddly, there’s some ambiguity surrounding whether the energy cut-off would be a collective effort from all Canadian provinces or just Ford’s home turf. A spokesperson for Ford mentioned that while he can only represent Ontario, energy exports are very much in the province’s domain. So, in essence, it’s unclear if a game of musical chairs will ensue, where provinces scramble to keep up energy flows—or if Ontario will take the lead in this high-stakes drama.
The retaliatory threats don’t stop at crude oil and electricity. Canada, the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum, and uranium to the U.S., also plays a pivotal role in supplying vital minerals and metals that have the Pentagon and national security analysts wide-eyed. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, perhaps scouting out their arsenal, declared Canada would respond robustly to what she deemed “unjustified tariffs.” The vague nature of her comments about cutting off oil only seems to add to the suspense of this unfolding saga.
Meanwhile, the economic implications of the tariffs loom large. With nearly $3.6 billion Canadian crossing the border daily and Canada being the top export destination for 36 U.S. states, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Economists are ringing alarm bells that U.S. consumers would feel the pinch directly, as costs for everyday essentials like food, clothing, and even automobiles could skyrocket. As if that weren’t enough to make Americans weep into their maple syrup, produce distributors have forewarned that fresh fruits and vegetables could become pricier and hurt U.S. farmers—now there’s a plot twist nobody saw coming.
Ontario premier says U.S. energy exports will be cut off if Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on Canadahttps://t.co/sDreiNHXKg pic.twitter.com/HJQPj78iot
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 12, 2024
While Trudeau mourns the fact that the U.S. electorate opted for Trump over the ever-charming Kamala Harris, his comments about progress were met with a collective eye-roll from many—including Elon Musk, who labeled Trudeau an “insufferable tool.” In a demonstration of just how out of touch some politicians can get, Ford weighed in, defending the electoral process and asserting that Trump’s election was a democratic choice, much to the existential crisis of progressives everywhere.
In this spectacle of tit-for-tat brinkmanship and economic uncertainty, one thing stands clear: the stakes are high, the rhetoric is fierce, and the potential fallout could be felt across North America. Whether Canada will truly follow through with threats to cut energy or simply bluster remains to be seen. The only certainty is that this heated episode is likely to make for some amusing headlines in the coming weeks.
