Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will head to Ottawa next week for a one-on-one “heart-to-heart” with Prime Minister Mark Carney, pushing for tax relief to help Canadians weather the economic fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Speaking in Windsor on Tuesday, Ford said his priority will be creating an environment that fuels economic growth by “putting money in people’s pockets.” He argued that reducing taxes — including cutting the HST on new homes — would spur spending and investment. “It’s economics 101,” Ford said. “You go out to dinner, buy a pair of sneakers, buy a pair of jeans — it stimulates the economy.”
Earlier this month, Trump hiked tariffs on Canadian goods not covered by a free trade agreement to 35%, prompting Ford to call for dollar-for-dollar retaliation. Carney has so far held off, focusing instead on broader trade and economic strategies.
Ford also criticized the Bank of Canada’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged for three straight meetings, saying “the economy at this point in time trumps inflation.” He urged a shift toward making Canada “the most competitive jurisdiction in the G7” to attract business investment.
While he said Canadians must “fight like they have never fought before” in response to Trump’s trade measures, Ford emphasized that his Ottawa meeting will be about competitiveness, not just confrontation. “Yeah, always keep an eye on Trump,” he said, “but let’s focus on how we can be more competitive.”