Toronto/CMEDIA: An enhanced energy partnership reportedly between Canada and the U.S. as part of a broader effort to avert tariff threats from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, has been pitched by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Outlining his vision for a “renewed strategic alliance” to enable increased exports of Canadian energy south of the border and a more integrated electrical grid, said Ford while speaking at the Darlington nuclear generating station Wednesday,
The proposed partnership, Ford said would help North America obtain energy security as the U.S. “decouples from China and its global proxies.
“This won’t be easy. It will require long-term thinking…dedication…friends and allies. Canada is here to help… Working together, Canada and the U.S. can be the richest, most successful, safest, most secure countries on the planet,” Ford has said
Included in this extensive plan would be fast-tracked approvals for new large nuclear plants and small modular nuclear reactors, the province has said in a news release.
Ways to cut red tape to speed up construction of cross-border energy infrastructure like transmission lines and pipelines would also be explored by a proposed working group of Canadian and U.S. lawmakers and industry experts.
Trump’s intention of imposing a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian goods after he re-takes office later this month poses an existential threat to several key industries in Ontario.
“These tariffs would be devastating for both of our economies…disrupt deeply integrated supply chains…uncertainty for investors, raise costs for businesses…countless jobs at risk on both sides of the border,” Ford said Wednesday.
Ford threatens to cut off Ontario’s energy supply to U.S. if Trump follows through on tariffs
As the chair of the Council of the Federation, Ford has been on the forefront of the ongoing effort to prevent Trump’s tariff threat from becoming a reality.
In Dec he was reported saying that in retaliation for tariffs, he would consider cutting off Ontario’s energy supply to several U.S. states, including parts of New York, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Ford government is spending tens of millions of dollars on a U.S. ad campaign touting those historical ties and has been regularly appearing on American cable news programs during prime time, stressing the longtime economic and cultural relationship between Canada and the U.S.
