Prime Minister Mark Carney made multiple calls to Doug Ford from Asia, urging him to withdraw an advertisement campaign that has been linked to the breakdown of trade negotiations with the United States, the Ontario premier disclosed on Monday. Carney, during the weekend, advised Ford against running the ad, which featured clips of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.
When questioned after a session, Ford declined to disclose the specifics of their discussions but hinted at a differing account from Carney’s portrayal. Despite agreeing to halt the ads in response to President Donald Trump’s termination of trade talks, Ford continued airing them for a few days, including during World Series games, prompting Trump to threaten additional tariffs on Canadian goods.
Ford confirmed that Carney, who was on an official trip to Asia, had urged him more than once to remove the ads. Despite their differing perspectives, Ford emphasized that he paused the ad as agreed upon. He also emphasized that he maintains a positive relationship with Carney.
Trump expressed displeasure over the ad, causing Carney to apologize to the president, without informing Ford beforehand. The Prime Minister’s Office refrained from directly commenting on Ford’s statements, reiterating the government’s focus on engaging with the U.S. administration to secure a mutually beneficial deal for both nations.
Ford remained optimistic about the impact of the ad, citing its significant viewership and its role in influencing a U.S. Senate resolution against tariffs. The initial $75 million ad campaign, which was intended to run throughout the winter, has been discontinued, reducing the taxpayer cost, although the final expenses are yet to be determined.
While Canada-U.S. trade discussions are currently on hold, the Canadian government has expressed readiness to resume negotiations from where they left off.