Doug Ford to U.S.: “I Won’t Hesitate to Shut the Power Off”

Ontario Canada Premier Doug Ford

By Fatou Jaiteh and Yusef Taylor

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced a 25% tariff on electricity exports to the United States, impacting approximately 1.5 million Americans. This move comes in response to U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s recent reversal on tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico.

President Trump’s decision to initiate a trade war with the United States’ two closest neighbors has disrupted the economies of all three nations, which are naturally interconnected through trade. The president initially justified the tariffs by citing concerns over the influx of the illegal drug fentanyl. However, after first threatening the tariffs last month, both Mexico and Canada agreed to deploy additional troops to their borders in an effort to address these concerns.

In February 2025, President Trump briefly paused all tariffs for 30 days, only a few hours after announcing them. However, the United States continued to enforce tariffs on Chinese imports. In response, China introduced retaliatory measures.

Now, in early March 2025, President Trump has once again threatened a new wave of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, only to pause them once more. These ongoing uncertainties have rattled the markets, with investors growing increasingly hesitant to commit funds. Stock markets have experienced volatility, reflecting concerns over the instability of trade policies.

Although the U.S. ultimately decided to cancel tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, some districts in Canada have moved forward with banning all U.S. alcohol from store shelves. “It’s off the shelves, and it will stay off the shelves until these tariffs are gone,” stated Premier Ford, who governs Ontario, Canada’s most populous province.

Today, Premier Ford escalated retaliatory measures by imposing a 25% tariff on all electricity exports to the United States, affecting over 1.5 million Americans. He warned that he is prepared to take further action if necessary.

“I will not hesitate to increase this charge. If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely,” Ford declared. However, he expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing, “Believe me when I say I do not want to do this. I feel terrible for the American people who didn’t start this trade war. There’s only one person responsible—President Trump.”

Before the temporary pause in tariffs was agreed upon, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to deploy 10,000 troops to the U.S. border to help curb the flow of fentanyl and irregular migration. She also highlighted the United States' commitment to addressing arms trafficking into Mexico, a long-standing concern for Mexican authorities.

“I look forward to participating in these negotiations with President Sheinbaum as we work toward a deal between our two countries,” Trump stated.

On Truth Social, Trump defended his trade policies, writing, “As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30-day period to see whether a final economic deal with Canada can be structured. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!”

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged a $1.3 billion investment in border security, building on a plan first announced last year. Trudeau also intends to appoint a "Fentanyl Czar" to combat drug trafficking into the U.S. Additionally, Canada will establish a joint task force with the U.S. to target cross-border criminal organizations and invest $200 million in intelligence operations focused on organized crime and fentanyl smuggling.