Ontario’s premier said he’s “ripping up” the contract between his province and Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service, following President Trump’s decision to target Canada with 25 percent tariffs, which are set to go into effect Tuesday.
“Ontario won’t do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday in a post on the social platform X.
Noting Ontario spends about $30 billion annually on procurement, Ford said Ontario would prohibit contracts with American-based companies, which would likely cost them billions in new revenue.
“They only have President Trump to blame,” he said.
“We’re going one step further,” he continued. “We’ll be ripping up the province’s contract with Starlink.”
Ford signed a Canadian $100 million deal with Musk’s company in November to deliver high-speed internet to remote residents in rural and northern Ontario, The Associated Press reported.
Trump on Saturday signed off on 25 percent tariffs on Canada, with 10 percent tariffs on Canadian energy imports. He also targeted Mexico with 25 percent tariffs and China with 10 percent tariffs. Tariffs on Mexico have been delayed one month, but tariffs on Canada and China are set to take effect on Tuesday.
Trump said Monday morning he had already spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about tariffs he wanted to be imposed on Canada and that they would speak again Monday afternoon.
The response from Canada to Trump’s tariffs has been fierce. Trudeau said Sunday night that Canada would impose 25 percent tariffs on more than $100 billion in U.S. goods.
At least half of Canada’s provinces, including Ontario, directed their respective liquor boards to pull U.S. alcohol from the shelves of public stores.
“Canada didn’t start this fight with the U.S., but you better believe we’re ready to win it,” Ford said.
