Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed his frustration towards Prime Minister Mark Carney for his recent agreement with China regarding electric vehicles, revealing that the two have not communicated since then. Ford mentioned on Monday that he was disappointed by Carney’s lack of prior notice about the deal before the prime minister’s visit to China last week.
The agreement facilitated by Carney permits up to 49,000 electric vehicles to enter Canada with a significantly reduced tariff rate of 6.1 percent, in return for easing tariffs on Canadian canola and select seafood products. Carney highlighted the potential for Chinese companies to manufacture cost-effective electric vehicles in Canada, presenting the deal as a favorable opportunity for Ontario.
Ford raised concerns about the impact of the deal on Ontario’s auto sector, which is already grappling with challenges posed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on Canadian-made cars. Despite their previously amicable relationship, Ford criticized the lack of communication from Carney regarding the agreement, stating that the auto companies and himself were informed only a few hours before the official announcement.
The premier emphasized his discontent with Carney during a meeting with Ontario’s rural municipalities earlier on Monday, describing the situation as far from a collaborative effort. Ford emphasized that the sudden revelation of the deal did not reflect a partnership, as he and local auto companies were blindsided by the news shortly before the public announcement.
Following Carney’s assumption of office as prime minister last spring, he and Ford developed a close rapport. Carney had stayed overnight at Ford’s cottage during a gathering of all premiers in Huntsville, receiving praise from Ford for his business acumen and earning the premier’s full backing. This stood in contrast to Ford’s previous criticisms of Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, in recent times.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe accompanied Carney on his recent visit to China, aiming to address the 100 percent tariff imposed by China on canola in response to Canada’s matching tariff on Chinese electric vehicles during former U.S. President Joe Biden’s term. As part of the deal, China will notably decrease tariffs on Canadian canola seed and temporarily eliminate tariffs on canola meal in exchange for Ottawa’s concessions on electric vehicles.
Ford lamented that Ontario seemed to receive the short end of the stick in the negotiations, expressing concerns over the potential negative impact of Chinese vehicles flooding the local market on auto sector workers. He criticized the agreement, suggesting that Carney had brokered an unfavorable deal with China that could harm Ontario’s interests.
In advocating for a more proactive approach from the federal government, Ford called for the complete removal of the electric vehicle mandate, which had been temporarily halted but not entirely scrapped. He also urged for the alignment of regulations with trade partners to facilitate smoother trade relationships.
Carney aims to leverage the electric vehicle deal to attract additional investments to Canada, as per Ontario Liberal trade critic Stephanie Bowman. With the looming threat to Canadian and Ontario jobs from the U.S., Bowman emphasized the importance of exploring trade opportunities with partners like China.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner criticized Ford for lacking a concrete plan for the electric vehicle market, highlighting the necessity for rebates to make electric vehicles more affordable and the implementation of a procurement strategy to stimulate demand for locally manufactured electric vehicles in Ontario. Despite delays in major electric vehicle projects in the province due to market conditions and trade uncertainties, global demand for electric vehicles continues to rise steadily.