TORONTO (AP) — The leader of Canada’s most populous province of Ontario said Monday he’s ripping up a contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink internet services in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Canada.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who said he is also banning American companies from provincial contracts, signed a $100-million Canadian (US$68 million) with Musk’s company in November to deliver high-speed internet to remote residents in rural and northern Ontario.
“We’ll be ripping up the province’s contract with Starlink. Ontario won’t do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy,” Ford said.
“President Trump is the only person to be blamed. Maybe Elon Musk can call his buddy? This is one of the ramifications.”
Ford said U.S.-based businesses will lose out on “tens of billions of dollars” in new revenues as a result of Ontario’s response.
“We just aren’t going to be using American companies,” Ford said. “And no matter if we are building a hospital, if we’re building anything, if we’re building a dog house I want to make sure we are using Ontario steel, Canadian products, Canadian wood, Ontario wood, anything.
“I don’t care if it’s a toothpick. We need to purchase from Canada and Ontario.”
Ontario and other provinces already planned to remove American liquor brands from government store shelves. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario sells nearly $1 billion worth of American wine, beer, spirits and seltzers every year, Ford pointed.
“Canada didn’t start this fight with the U.S., but you better believe we’re ready to win it,” said Ford, who called an election for his province last week.
Ford said he wants a four year mandate that outlasts Trump’s term. “He wants to come after us?” he asked. “I’ve yet to hear one American citizen say Canada is the problem.”
Canada and Mexico ordered retaliatory tariffs on American goods in response to sweeping tariffs imposed by Trump. Ford also encouraged businesses to put the Canadian flag on products so Canadians know what to buy.
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“This is a tax on American citizens. That’s what Donald Trump is doing to his own people,” said Ford, who described Musk as part of the Trump team “that wants to destroy families incomes, destroy businesses. He want to take food off the table of hard working people and I’m not going to tolerate it.”
Trump responded Sunday, criticizing Canada’s trade surplus with the United States and contending that without that surplus, “Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true! Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!”
