Ontario Premier Doug Ford is once again reaching out to American audiences to make his case for Canada. In an op-ed in the Washington Post, released Friday, Ford used the success of the Toronto Blue Jays to illustrate Canada’s importance on the world stage, once again slamming tariffs and promoting free trade between two countries that are “neighbours, allies and best friends.” “For the first time in more than three decades, the Toronto Blue Jays are competing for the World Series — and the timing couldn’t be better,” Ford wrote. He went on to say that the close relationship between Canada and the United States has been “tested” by U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to introduce tariffs on many Canadian goods. In response to these tariffs, the premier argued, Canadians have become “united” in an unprecedented way. “Patriotism is surging north of the border in big and small ways, from choosing Canadian-made products on grocery store shelves to making no apology about cheering on the home team,” Ford added. Quoting U.S. media, Ford said Americans have “underestimated the Jays” in the club’s matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. “Canada’s Team isn’t some small-market afterthought. The Jays play for the fourth largest metropolitan area in North America and a proud nation of more than 41 million people,” Ford said. “Like our team, Canada can boast about being a global heavyweight, too.” The premier called Canada an “energy superpower” with some of the “largest deposits of critical minerals in the world in the Ring of Fire.” “We’re America’s No. 1 customer, buying more America-made cars than any other country on earth. In 2023, Ontario on its own was the largest trading partner for 17 states and second largest for another 11,” he added. He pointed to internal free trade agreements between the provinces as evidence of Canada’s unity. “Canadian governments are working together to build the pipelines, ports, rail lines, transmission lines and other infrastructure that will unlock new trade routes. We’re onshoring manufacturing jobs and using Canadian products wherever we can to build a stronger, more united country,” he wrote. “Canada stands proud on the world stage. The Jays will, too, when they bring it home and win the World Series.” For several months, Ford has been making his rounds on U.S. networks to throw cold water on Trump’s tariffs. Earlier this month, the premier angered Trump after the provincial government paid millions to run anti-tariff ads featuring former American president Ronald Reagan on U.S. networks. The move prompted Trump to halt trade negotiations with the Canadian government and implement an additional 10 per cent tariff on Canadian goods.
