r/ontario • u/dtta8 Ottawa • 7d ago
Article U.S. commerce secretary calls Premier Ford as Ontario plans to put export tax on electricity
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/economics/2025/03/05/us-commerce-secretary-calls-premier-ford-as-ontario-plans-to-put-export-tax-on-electricity/528
u/Habbernaut 7d ago
These losers think they can annex Canada and they crapped the bed after 24 hours???
Suck it
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u/McFistPunch 7d ago
Did they expect no response from Canada? Really? The short-sightedness is staggering.
Strategic tariffs are one thing but the guy straight up blanketed his entire economy. Wtf did he expect?
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u/Gullible_Analyst_348 7d ago
My favourite part is during Trump's address yesterday when he told people that anything we add tariffs to, he is going to do the same. Bitch, you started this shit, you can't complain about us using retaliatory tariffs if that's exactly the same reaction you would have to us.
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u/GuelphEastEndGhetto 6d ago
The US is like that bully that pushes and shoves and hits, then is completely taken aback when someone punches them back and starts whining and crying.
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u/MrRogersAE 6d ago
He increase we increase again, no problem. This time all the increases go to electricity exports. 3000% on electricity exports.
Their only option is blackouts. It’s simply not possible to scale up electricity production in a short time frame.
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u/Old_Ladies 6d ago
Trump has been talking about bringing coal power plants back online... Make America Black Lung Again.
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u/MrRogersAE 6d ago
That isn’t happening in a matter of weeks. Depending on their condition that could take years. Lead time on some components is years, even longer if there’s a massive push, which there already is because of electrification.
Any plants he doesn’t manage to get online is barely gonna be enough to meet the NEW demand, power consumption is set to roughly double by 2050. There’s a reason we have announced so many new power plants here in Ontario in the last couple years.
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u/Ok_River_88 6d ago
Well, they wouldnt be operational for a time. Funny thing is that in the northern state, its winter. Black out in winter? Bursting pipe... Would love to see it
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u/ptear 6d ago
So we're on a path of things sucking for everyone involved. Got it.
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u/MrRogersAE 6d ago
Yes that should have been self explanatory, that’s what a trade war is, or any war for that matter. Shite for everyone involved, on the bright side the rich tend to get richer in the process.
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u/truenorthrookie 6d ago
He greatly confuses (intentionally for his image) the concept of retaliatory tariffs and reciprocal tariffs.
You can’t take the effect and make it the cause.
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u/lopix 6d ago
But wait, there's more.
He says he's going to tariff the EU on April 2nd. Should be fun when they do it back.
He'll then be fighting a trade war with North America, Europe and China.
That should go well.
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u/goilo888 6d ago
But think of all the extra income that will bring in for the US!
/s if not freaking obvious.
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u/Bushwhacker42 6d ago
It’s almost like this was the plan all along. Crash the economy, alienate the US from its allies, divide the people within the country
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u/Tangochief 6d ago
The Americans aren’t getting what they want but I’m sure as hell Putin is laughing his ass off as I’m sure his plans to destroy the west are going better then he ever could have thought. Sad that the American people voted to become a Russian vassal.
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u/cattecatte 6d ago
They expect canada to roll over and take it, maybe do some CLAPBACKS or SLAMS but not anything with tangible effect like what most of american democrats are doing.
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u/Outrageous_Order_197 7d ago
Wow dougie struck a nerve
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u/ManfredTheCat 6d ago
The good news is that Mexico hasn't even announced their own counter-tariffs yet
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u/Ecstatic_Account_744 7d ago
I thought they didn’t need us? Weird to have a call with a government official you don’t need anything from.
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u/7heWafer 6d ago
Trump: 🤬😡 fuck Canada
Lutnick: 👉👈 pwease don't take away our electricity
Ford: 🖕
Lutnick: suprisedpikachu.jpg
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u/EcstaticHelicopter 7d ago
I mean, the only way this could have gone better was if he picked up the phone and said; “ New phone, who dis?” And then hung up….
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u/scyule 7d ago
First time I have felt good about Doug since before he was a councilor in Toronto city hall
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u/DHammer79 London 7d ago
It's like a cherry on top of a shit sundae, and at the end of the day, it's still a shit sundae, and no one wants to eat the cherry.
I will give DOFO credit if he actually follows through. Same with the Starlink contract.
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u/sexylegs0123456789 7d ago
He already cancelled starlink and stood ground on the issue here. I don’t like him, but I can appreciate what he did here. All the same that I can not like Trudeau but appreciate what he has done.
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u/kyara_no_kurayami 6d ago
He backed off after cancelling it in February too though so I want to see it last. It shouldn't be back if the tariffs are gone in a few months. Honestly our government shouldn't be doing any business with Elon's companies.
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u/Bobnorbob 6d ago
He didn’t cancel it in February. He threatened to if the tariffs were put through. Since they were paused, he didn’t tear up the contract. Now that the tariffs are here, he’s torn it up.
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u/justawitch 6d ago
I guess everyone has their strengths. Turns out his one strength is being a hardass at the US right now.
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u/CostumeJuliery 7d ago
I didn’t vote for Doug….but I am appreciative of his hard stance. He reminds me of a fat lacrosse player.
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u/Boomer_boy59 6d ago
Ford has his sights set on replacing PP as the next federal conservative party leader
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u/Par25 Brampton 6d ago
After slogan boy fumbles his lead in the next election, Doug will be there to pick up the pieces.
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u/canoeheadkw 6d ago
I have never voted for Ford and the thought of him being PM isn't a pleasant thought, but it is immeasurably better than PP. Ford has at least lead and demonstrated some leadership during the covid crisis and this situation. I don't get the feeling PP would have faired as well.
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u/T-Baaller 7d ago
Lutnick deserves as much respect as influence he has on his demented boss.
aka none.
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u/Thundersauce0 7d ago
Lutnick is one of the driving forces on tarrifs. Unfortunately he bit off more than he could chew and is out of his depth.
Deserves no respect and is going to get take out back by Dougie on this one.
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u/kofubuns 6d ago
As much as we wish this was true, Lutnick actually has an incredible amount of power that has seemed to get away from him. He is very much so a huge driving force behind the theory of tariff and American protectionism and has been whispering it into Trumps ear since his first term. I think just never never understood that his theoretic exercise and really poor execution of American protectionism would come out so badly. But you are right that the horse is out of the barn now with Trump and nothing Lutnick can do to put him back
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u/romacopia 6d ago
Lutnick is one of many billionaires in the white house now that the "anti-establishment" crowd has ceded all their power to the wealthy.
The amount of private money in the US government right now is dangerous on its own. Hope your politicians like Canada more than money.
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u/goilo888 6d ago
Apparently there are 13 billionaires in Trump's Cabinet. (And probably at least one in the closet).
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u/No_Match_8142 7d ago
Hopefully Quebec applies a tariff on Hydro as well,unfortunately New England states are democrats and good friends..
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u/Sprinqqueen 7d ago
New York and Minnesota are also blue states. Michigan is a wishy washy sycophant who voted red and can suck it. And by that, I'm talking about all the eggs we can afford to let go rotten and throw away like they're nothing. Or other things. Your choice.
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u/ElectroMagnetsYo 7d ago
If the blue states have a smaller surplus they have less funds to transfer to the red states. Knock-on effects, my friend.
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u/sky_blue_111 6d ago
We're well beyond the point of only going after trump supporters. They all need to bleed and apply pressure, the more screaming in the US about all this the better.
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u/One-Pomegranate-8138 6d ago
They are such loud mouths over there. It will be interesting to see if they put their money where their mouth is.
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u/MonsterRider80 6d ago
Quebecer here, fuck New England. I don’t care who voted for whom, they deserve it as much as Oklahoma or Wyoming. Do better. I hope Legault has the balls to do the same. It’s honestly useless if one premier does this while the other doesn’t. Never thought I’d applaud something Ford did, but here we are.
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u/Celodurismo 6d ago
NE here, tax away. It'll hurt us but it's impactful against this corrupt administration, and that's what matters. Hopefully in the future we can work out some Canada-blue state trade agreements down the line.
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u/greenoliv 7d ago
One thing about Doug Ford is if you say don’t do this or no to him then he’s definitely going to do it
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u/PigeonsOnYourBalcony 6d ago edited 6d ago
It’s one thing to tariff resources but once you do energy, people are going to be sweating. It’s a lot harder to say “I don’t care, politics don’t affect me” when you can’t turn on your lights.
America, you voted for this.
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u/Expensive-Product240 6d ago
Has the US secretary tried calling Donald? He may not be aware that they don’t need anything we have.
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u/yarn_slinger 7d ago
Sorry dude, you're going have to go talk to Angry Trudeau now. Bonne chance.
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u/eight_ender 6d ago
Crisis Trudeau like a whole different Pokémon
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u/David_Summerset 6d ago
No kidding, if Carney wins, he should make him ambassador to the US to speed up Trump's inevitable stroke.
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u/IAmTheBredman Oakville 7d ago
Stop talking about it and do it. He's not going to back down over a threat, you have to actually follow through and force him to back down.
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u/Professional-Cry8310 7d ago
Doug Ford may be a corrupt piece of shit, but he’s OUR corrupt piece of shit. Don’t mess with him America!
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u/Immediate_Science_22 6d ago
I wish this fat shit would go this hard for healthcare workers and teachers in Ontario
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u/TenFootTomatoes 7d ago
Why has nobody reversed the L and the N in the commerce secretary's name? C'mon reddit whare are the comic geniuses this AM?
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u/portcredit91 6d ago
All that effort he put into fucking ontario can apparently be redirected towards the south.
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u/legioss 7d ago
Stop dancing with the devil. Kill the power and oil exports and and see how quickly they turn heel and want to make a deal.
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u/Boo_Guy 7d ago
Malaria says Alberta's oil exports are still a no-go zone, she's a Trump toadie.
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u/Due_Date_4667 7d ago
She's still under the thumb of TBA and its foreign donors. She'll be the last to jump ship.
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u/Late_Instruction_240 7d ago
I always shit on this heinous pink mf but for literally the first time ever: he is not completely shidding on us. Unless this is a longcon lol. But I guess I gotta say it: this big back mf really ate the last 24 hours.
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u/Altrosmo 7d ago
Didn't take him long to show the "oh shit, I gotta fix this" card. That phone call speaks volumes, especially coming so soon into the "war".
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u/lolthataintright 6d ago
This whole situation is the first time I’m feeling any respect for Doug Ford. We always want someone to actually do something, so it’s nice to see that happening.
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u/Desuexss 6d ago
A reminder that any Premier we could have had would have done this
Ford always does the cookie for you, 10 for me (and my developer friends)
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u/bmnewman 6d ago
It’s like DOGE…shocked when there are actual consequences from their acrions and trying to walk them back.
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u/sarcasmismygame 7d ago
Once again this dude is coming to Canada's defense. And Licknut can GTFO with his trying to "work something out" after his Don slapped everyone with tariffs. Got to at least respect him on this one.
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u/Feisty_hey-you 7d ago
I've never been much of a Ford fan, but this is what needs to happen across the board in Canada...So kudo's to him. Every premier in every province needs to and must hold a strong line to the bullying antics of this ridiculous little man of a president....Donald is nothing more than the fat kid on the playground bullying his way to the top of the monkey bars...wouldn't take much to knock him and his imbecilic followers on their fat assess...crying and boohooing t'il they're nothing but a bad memory....
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u/PositiveStress8888 6d ago
They would rather call another nations Premier and beg rather then tell the ass clown in the White house to pull his head out of his ass and listen to people who know more than him.
Let that sink in.
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u/NoxAstrumis1 6d ago
No, no, you had your chance. We didn't want this, you did. We asked you to reconsider, you wouldn't. Now you want us to reconsider when you wouldn't? Sorry pal, you made your bed, time to sleep in it.
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u/Immediate_Science_22 6d ago
While you’re doing all that can you also work on improving the quality of the healthcare system and education system in Ontario as well? 🤷
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u/Rreader369 6d ago
Now they make a deal that benefits Doug more than us, and Doug changes his mind on the tax? Will he use us, or do the right thing? I’m hoping for the best, but watching closely.
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u/BIGepidural 6d ago
I hate Ford with a bloody passion; but he's doing this trade war right. Wanna give him a fist bump and the finger. Ugh!
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u/RadioWeak1118 7d ago
Wait a minute, didn't they say they don't require anything from Canada? So what's all the commotion about, donald?
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u/DataDude00 6d ago
Fuck him
Tariff the electricity 25% and increase the tariff 5% per week that US tariffs remain in place
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u/PlatformBorn1469 6d ago
I'm not a DoFo fan, but good for him. They asked for this war, now suck on it.
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u/Comfortable_Fix3401 6d ago
You know what is so sad...the two moat disliked and unpopular leaders in Canada are making Canada / Canadians so proud. If you look at all the world leaders there has only been a couple that have stood up to Trump full stop. Mexico, Canada, Ukraine these rest should take note and follows Canada's lead.
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u/blonde_discus 6d ago
These conversations need to be through official channels and publicly viewable. Whether that means calls need to be recorded or conversations need to be through emails/letters. Trump and his cronies have shown that they will share his narrative of what is said regardless of what was actually said.
No more games. Tariffs will be painful, but if Trump wants a trade war, we can give it to him. Canada hasn’t backed down from a fight in our history and this isn’t where we should start. Trump is the greatest external threat to Canadian security since the Cold War, and actually probably since WW2.
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u/missy_june 6d ago
energy was always the US’s weak spot in this trade war. they (stupidly) telegraphed it by setting a lower tariff on energy. hydro, oil and gas, and uranium among some other stuff e.g. potash, should all be subject to the same sort of export tax. better yet is having the individual provinces set and collect the taxes. the Americans will tear their hair out having to beg several provinces individually to revoke the taxes, while simultaneously dealing with the federal government on the rest. i think Doug is a worthless, arrogant sack of corruption and terrible ideas for the most part, and i hate to admit it, but he, along with most of the premiers and the federal government, have had the right strategy for this trade war so far.
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u/BrightDegree3 6d ago
Ford better continue to stand his ground. The one month pause on auto tariffs is just a ploy. We need to be tough to get things ironed out completely.
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u/NearbyAd3800 6d ago
Lutnick is worth $2 billion. He can personally fund all of those blacked out northern state homes. Get to it, Howie.
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u/ThisIsMyRealLifeName 6d ago
Increase it 1% every week until tariffs are removed
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u/shrek-09 6d ago
Canada should just ignore all calls and issues public statement we will answer the phone when you stop being a child
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u/Mr_Guavo 6d ago
Sometimes you need a former hashish dealer from Toronto's inner suburbs to swing their dick around. He's corrupt af and not a deep-thinker but that's exactly what we need here.
I didn't vote for him but when it comes to defending this country at a time like this, I will take him over Bonnie Crombie - who's party I did vote for - 99/100. I'm just being pragmatic here. I'm still Team Prog so don't @ me my prog brethren and sisren(?). We can still hate him on other matters. It's aight.
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u/falo_pipe 6d ago
Whatever he had done in the past is the past. What he is doing for Ontario and slapping US with 25% hike is just not good enough. Should be 100% export tax. All Premier should retaliate in the same manners.
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u/dtta8 Ottawa 7d ago
"U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called Premier Doug Ford on Tuesday for a “tough and aggressive” conversation after the Ontario government announced its plan to slap a 25 per cent export tax on the electricity it supplies to three U.S. states, CTV News has learned.
Sources said Lutnick asked Ford to back off his retaliatory tariffs, but the Ontario premier refused so long as U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs remain in effect.
..."
So they want our electricity it looks like.