Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed his displeasure towards Prime Minister Mark Carney for finalizing a deal with China regarding electric vehicles without informing him beforehand. Ford mentioned that despite their supposed good relationship, Carney did not give him a heads-up about the deal before his trip to China last week. The agreement allows up to 49,000 electric vehicles to enter Canada with a reduced tariff rate of 6.1 percent in exchange for dropping tariffs on Canadian canola and some seafood. Carney believes the deal presents an opportunity for Ontario, particularly in attracting Chinese companies to produce affordable electric vehicles in the region. However, Ford criticized the deal, stating that it poses a threat to Ontario’s auto sector, which is already under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on Canadian-made cars.
During a conference with Ontario’s rural municipalities, Ford expressed his frustration with Carney over the lack of communication regarding the deal, calling it anything but a partnership. He highlighted that he and the auto companies only found out about the agreement a few hours before it was publicly announced, undermining the notion of collaboration.
Following Carney’s assumption of the prime minister role, he and Ford developed a close relationship. Despite this, Ford raised concerns about the recent deal with China, emphasizing that it does not benefit Ontario as much as other regions. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe accompanied Carney on the trip to China to address the tariffs imposed on canola by China in response to Canadian actions regarding Chinese electric vehicles.
Ford urged the federal government to take action by eliminating the EV mandate and aligning regulations with trading partners to foster better trade relationships. Meanwhile, Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner criticized Ford for lacking a plan to encourage the electric vehicle market in Ontario, calling for rebates and procurement strategies to promote the adoption of EVs made in the province. Despite delays in major electric vehicle projects in Ontario due to various factors, including market conditions and trade disputes, global demand for electric vehicles continues to grow.
