In the face of incoming U.S. president Donald Trump’s threat to acquire Canada, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is touting the strength of the province’s energy supply to generate revenue and jobs on both sides of the border.
Ford said in a news release ahead of the Wednesday announcement, “With a new administration set to take office in the White House, our government has an ambitious plan to build up Fortress Am-Can to usher in a new American and Canadian century defined by unprecedented growth, job creation and prosperity.” The plan includes powering a portion of New York, Michigan and Minnesota with Ontario’s energy, currently powering 1.5 million homes, but only as a “last resort” should Trump push ahead with a threat to slap a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods. On Wednesday, the provincial government struck a more collaborative tone, noting in the news release that Ontario is uniquely positioned to bring more jobs back to the U.S. as it “decouples from China” due to its supply of nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable energy. As part of the plan, Ford said he wants to enhance and build out the integrated energy and electric grid shared between the two countries. “Fortress Am-Can should be powered by Am-Can energy of every type that’s produced, consumed and creates jobs in every region of both countries. With our fleet of nuclear power plants and the first small modular nuclear reactors in the G7, Ontario is uniquely positioned to power the future of Fortress Am-Can.” In the Wednesday announcement made at the Darlington Energy Complex, Ford said his government is also recommending streamlining the approval process for new small modular and large nuclear reactors and developing new and reinforcing existing electricity and natural gas pathways.The announcement comes less than 24 hours after Ford appeared on another U.S. network to rebuff Trump’s threat of acquiring Canada as the 51st state. “I get it. President-elect Trump is a real estate tycoon. He’s made billions. But that property is not for sale”, Ford said.