Instead of “wasting time” on unrealistic U.S.-Canada merger rhetoric, Ontario Premier Doug Ford hopes that incoming President-elect Donald Trump might be swayed by his new plan to supercharge Canadian energy exports to the United States.
Despite previously threatening retaliation against Trump’s proposed tariffs, Ford outlined his Fortress Am-Can plan on Wednesday, with particular attention paid to Trump’s goal of decoupling the American economy from China.
If implemented, Fortress Am-Can would expand existing electricity grids and pipelines shared between Canada and the United States. The plan also hopes to streamline the approval process for new small modular and large nuclear reactors, while cutting other red tape.
Ontario recommended a suite of measures on top of building Fortress Am-Can. Among the recommendations is establishing a working group between lawmakers in the two countries to address threats posed by foreign interference, cyberattacks, terrorism, and extreme weather.
“By leveraging our nuclear energy advantage and proven technologies, we can displace reliance on undemocratic regimes as we generate more clean power for our economy and the world,” said Ontario’s Minister of Energy Stephen Lecce.
The Ontario government has already called on the Liberals to address U.S. economic and security concerns by matching U.S. tariffs on China, banning Chinese software in cars, delaying the digital services tax, and finally meeting its 2% of GDP on defence spending NATO requirement.
If Ontario were a standalone country, it would be the U.S.’s third-largest trading partner, with two-way trade totalling $493 billion in 2023. Ontario is the number one export destination for 17 U.S. states and comes second in 11.
When speaking at a press conference shortly after the announcement, Ford said that Ontario’s energy grid sends enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes in the United States, but hopes that Fortress Am-Can will result in even more energy production.
“Together, let’s stop wasting time and ridiculous ideas about merging, and instead focus on efforts on restoring the pride of Made in Canada and Made in U.S.A.,” said Ford. “Our country is not for sale. It will never be for sale. We could be the richest, wealthiest, most prosperous, safest jurisdiction anywhere in the world if we work together.”
Ford, the chair of Canada’s premiers, said that Trudeau has agreed to meet the premiers next Wednesday. He said that the message to Trudeau would be for him to do everything in his power to address the tariffs. The premiers are requesting a plan from Trudeau.
The Fortress Am-Can announcement came a day after Ontario unveiled a framework to enhance border security at their shared border with the United States.
The premiers previously demanded improved border security from Trudeau in response to Trump’s tariff threat.
“We’re going to hold his feet to the fire until the day he’s no longer prime minister. He still has a responsibility to make sure that we avoid these tariffs at all costs,” said Ford.
The Liberals subsequently devoted $1.3 billion towards a border security plan.
Ford took the news internationally when he joined Fox News’s Jesse Watters live on air.
Ford reiterated his stance that China, not Canada, is the root of the problem.
“China is shipping in cheap parts into Mexico, and then Mexico is slapping ‘Made in Mexico’ stickers on and shipping them up through the U.S. and Canada, costing American and Canadian jobs,” said Ford.
Despite Watters pushing Ford on the idea of annexation, Ford said economic collaboration was the answer.
“If we join together and take on the world with a great trade deal between us, I think that’d be fabulous. No one could stop us,” said Ford.
