Ontario Premier Doug Ford revealed that Prime Minister Mark Carney reached out to him multiple times from Asia, urging him to halt an advertisement campaign believed to have derailed trade negotiations with the United States. Carney expressed his opinion to Ford that the ad, featuring excerpts of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs, should not be aired by the province.
During a press briefing on Monday, Ford declined to disclose the specifics of his discussions with Carney but indicated a discrepancy in their interpretations. The dispute arose after Ford agreed to withdraw the ads following President Donald Trump’s decision to terminate trade discussions, attributing it to the televised commercials. However, Ford delayed the ad’s removal until after airing it during World Series games, prompting Trump to threaten additional tariffs on Canadian products.
Ford acknowledged Carney’s persistence in requesting the ad’s removal, stating that he eventually paused the campaign as agreed upon, emphasizing the continued positive relationship between the two politicians. Carney later conveyed his apology to Trump for the ad, which Trump found offensive, without informing Ford in advance.
Ford remains optimistic about the advertisement’s impact, citing its purported record-breaking 12.4 billion views and claiming it influenced a U.S. Senate resolution against tariffs. The Prime Minister’s Office refrained from directly addressing Ford’s comments, emphasizing the government’s commitment to engaging with the U.S. administration for mutual economic benefits.
Despite the ad’s removal, Ford defended its success in garnering attention and influencing political decisions. The original $75 million campaign, slated to run through the winter, was terminated prematurely, reducing the financial burden on taxpayers. While Canada-U.S. trade discussions remain suspended, Canadian officials have expressed readiness to resume negotiations when possible.
