Ford says majority gives Carney stronger hand to deal with Trump

Ontario Premier Doug Ford weighs in on the Carney government forming a majority and how it impacts ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and Canada.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says a Liberal win in two federal byelections means that Prime Minister Mark Carney will have a stronger hand to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump amid an ongoing trade war.

“I think anyone that has a majority government has a stronger hand to deal with President Trump and the tariffs that we’re facing,” Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park Tuesday.

His comment comes a day after the federal Liberals, already boosted by five floor-crossers, managed to secure a coveted majority through a trio of byelections, two of them in Toronto.

“We have a great working relationship,” Ford said, referring to Carney.

“I’ve always said I don’t care about political stripes, as long as we’re able to work with the federal government and making sure that the voices of Ontarians are heard, the funding is heard, and I look forward to working with him.”

Both Ford and Carney were elected last year on a promise to protect Ontario and Canada from the threat of a trade war initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Prior to the byelections, Ford said the two men had been working together “extremely well,” recently unveiling cuts to HST and development charges from new homes.

Ford also praised Carney for an announcement Tuesday that he will cut the federal gas tax temporarily in light of soaring fuel costs.

“I want to thank the prime minister for joining the club,” Ford said, noting Ontario already took the move last year.

He said it wasn’t his place to comment on whether federal Conservative Leader Piere Poilievre should resign amid the floor crossings and poor performance in the byelections.

Negotiations are currently underway to hammer out a new free trade deal between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico amid Trump’s increasing demands for concessions from trading partners.