Doug Ford defends Canada as he rises to take over Trump

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Snow plows and salt trucks that led to the removal of unexpected cells in the streets of Toronto, barely visible under my feet of snow. A full man canceled a small red shovel, as he helped out a besieged car at an intersection.

Doug Ford, Prime Minister in Ontario, was provided with the most populated boycott in Canada and its largest economy, who came to save drivers trapped in the snowstorm in January 2022, even with a few horse riding to the home.

Some residents criticized this gesture as a rich in public relations, but “but” but “but”A small red shovel“The moment was seized on the essence of Mr. Ford: Every man who, although he lacks some Polish for other politicians, is still doing the task.

Mr. Ford recently led the charge against a different kind of storm that entered Canada: President Trump’s threats to the country’s economy and his desire to do so Make it the state 51.

Mr. Ford, 60, has pushed the general lights, where he was defending the sovereignty of Canada, the economy and honor in Canada, and won the title of “Captain Canada” among some Canadians at a moment when the country feels betrayal by the United States and responded angrily.

“It seems like a family member stabs you in the heart,” Mr. Ford told reporters after Mr. Trump began threatening the customs tariff for Canada. The Prime Minister took the wearing of “Canada not for sale” the baseball hat and “Never 51Hockey shirt, hints at the state’s repeated statements of Mr. Trump.

He withdrew American alcohol from the wines of the alcohol store – Ontario is one of the largest buyers in American spirits – and canceled the government’s contract with Starlink, an internet company owned by Elon Musk, Mr. Trump’s ally of the billionaire.

Mr. Ford, whose office said was not available for an interview, was also imposed with an additional cost of 25 percent on the electricity provided by Ontario to Michigan, Minnesota and New York.

These tactics caught the attention of Mr. Trump.

“There is a very strong man in Canada,” Mr. Trump told reporters last week, referring to Mr. Ford, who retracted additional fees after speaking with Trump administration officials who presented an interview with their Canadian counterparts to discuss facing the customs tariff.

Mr. Ford, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in Ontario, ended up with a small delegation of Canadian government officials who traveled to Washington last week to discuss the trade battle at the White House.

However, Mr. Trump is expected to hit Canada Another round of definitions On April 2. Canada has already averaged by the previous definitions with the fees on American goods worth $ 20.5 billion.

Canadian economic tariffs can lead to recession, and a handful of Canadian mineral and manufacturing companies has already announced dozens of workers’ demobilization in response to the trade war.

“If we enter the recession, this is made by one person,” Mr. Ford said during an interview with American TV, as it became a regular presence on Fox News and MSNBC. “The recession of President Trump is called.”

Ontario has spent millions of dollars in advertisements on commercial advertisements that broadcast an American audience that highlights relations between the two countries and warn of the pain caused by the definitions on Canada to the pocket book.

Canada has always seen itself as under the United States, but Mr. Trump’s aggressive campaign, including continuous grievances that Canada benefits from the United States, has ignited a new sense of pride and recognition of its role on the world stage.

“I feel incredibly, incredibly driven to protect what I know with us,” said Arien Dickenson, Canadian investor, TV personality and member of a federal trade consultant.

It is attributed to Mr. Ford to drop these feelings loudly.

Ms. Dickenson said, “He did not retreat.” “He did not put individual interests before the entire interests of the country.”

The trade war came in a moment of turmoil in Canadian politics. Justin TrudeauThe Prime Minister was recently leaving, Behind Mark CarneA former Central banker, who is soon expected to invite the national elections that will put his party, liberals, against the conservatives.

With the best position of political leadership in Canada in the transition, Mr. Ford was seen as a representative in the country. He benefited from his popularity by summoning the regional elections more than a year early and easily won the majority.

Dennis Bilon, a professor of policy at York University in Toronto, said that the rushing of the Ontario elections helped Mr. Ford to maintain momentum and eyes on him.

“He did so specifically to prevent the narration from shifting anywhere else,” said Mr. Bilon.

before To become the Prime Minister in Ontario In 2018, Mr. Ford was elected in 2010 to the Toronto City Council, which was reinforced by voters known as “Ford Nation” who also supported the brother of Mr. Ford, Rob Ford. He was the former mayor of Toronto He died of cancer in 2016 Which ended his troubled political career after he confessed to smoking cocaine.

Mr. Ford’s prominent role in facing Canada with the United States led to no clarity in some differences that belong to the homeland, including a plan to convert the waterfront in Toronto into Toronto Spa.

The authorities are also investigating Unforgettable real estate deals Media by his government to make environmentally protected lands available to developers.

He faced a violent reaction regarding his plan to address the famous traffic problems in Toronto by tearing the popular cycling corridors.

But Mr. Ford is still seeking to get his ideas about the main challenge in Canada abroad, and reporters this week told that the threats of the inclusion of Mr. Trump were courtesy.

“We will not be a 51st country,” he said. “Canada is not for sale. But is it not good for someone to think that we have the greatest country in the world?”