Ontario officials estimate that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on Canadian goods could cost up to half a million jobs, Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday as he called for stronger and more visible action from the federal government.
The actual number of Ontario jobs affected by the 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods that Trump has signalled are coming will depend on what sectors are targeted, Ford said, but the ministries have told him it could be between 450,000 to 500,000.
"This is serious," Ford said at a press conference. "It's unprecedented."
All 13 premiers are set to meet Wednesday with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Ford said that with inauguration day happening in less than a week, a plan for how to respond to the tariffs should have already been finalized.
"I'm going to be blunt: they need to get their act together," Ford said. "Simple as that. It shouldn't be up to the premiers to be calling for a followup, in-person meeting. This should have happened a while ago, and we need to work as Team Canada. We can't have a divided Canada, we have to make sure we all stick together, and we're all singing off the same song sheet."
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who recently visited with Trump in Florida, has cautioned against the federal government blocking energy exports to the U.S. in response to tariffs, while Ford has said all options should be on the table.
One of the reasons Trump has said he’s imposing tariffs is border security, and while Ottawa has pledged $1.3 billion to tackle the issue, Ford said it’s not moving quickly enough.
"We need the federal government to step up with a solid plan for securing our border, and to make sure they get their two per cent NATO commitment," Ford said.
"We heard a number thrown out there, $1.3 billion for our border protection. I have yet to see anything, nothing at all," Ford said, adding that federal Public Safety Minister David McGuinty "needs to come out of hiding" and publicly lay out Ottawa's plan.
Ford is set to meet Tuesday afternoon with Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
The premier has also said he may need to spend tens of billions of dollars in response to the effects of the tariffs in Ontario, and has suggested he is thinking about calling an early election in order to put that type of stimulus spending to voters.
He did not give an indication of what timing he may have in mind, but did say he believes Trump may try to "slow roll" the tariffs.
