A Canadian Premier is saying he’s ready to shut off power to 1.5 million US customers after Donald Trump hit Canada with new tariffs. Not long after stepping back into the White House in January, Trump signed an order slapping ‘catastrophic’ tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.
The goal? According to him, it’s to hold them accountable for stopping the flow of dangerous drugs into the US. The order set a 25 percent tariff on goods coming from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent on imports from China.
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Trump explains how Canada can avoid the tariffs
The 47th POTUS made it clear there’s only one way for Canada to dodge the tariffs: they’d have to become the US’ “cherished 51st State.”
The White House claims fentanyl and border crossings justify the tariffs
The White House put out a statement saying these tariffs are part of Trump “taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country.”
The order also states: “There is growing production of fentanyl in Canada, and enough fentanyl was seized at the northern border last fiscal year to kill 9.8 million Americans. Additionally, illegal border crossings from Canada reached historic new highs every year for the last four fiscal years.”
Justin Trudeau says there is no justification for the tariffs
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pushed back hard in a statement on Monday (March 3):
“Today, after a 30-day pause, the United States administration has decided to proceed with imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports and 10 percent tariffs on Canadian energy. Let me be unequivocally clear – there is no justification for these actions.”
Doug Ford threatens to cut off power to the US
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, fresh off winning his third majority, is not holding back. At a news conference, he warned:
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do anything, including cutting off their energy — with a smile on my face. They need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard? We’ve got to go back twice as hard.”
Ontario provides electricity to 1.5 million US homes
Ford reminded everyone just how much power Ontario supplies to the US, telling NBC:
“We [Ontario] keep the lights on in 1.5 million homes and [in] manufacturing in New York, in Michigan, and in Minnesota. If he wants to destroy our economy and our families, I will shut down the electricity going into the US.”
Ford says Ontario will stand with the federal government
He added: “That’s exactly what we’re going to do. The provinces have a big say in it, but it’s the federal government that’s leading the charge, and we’re going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder no matter who’s in the federal government.”
Only time will tell if this power struggle gets real.
