Irresponsibily, Premier Doug Ford has threatened to cut off electricity exports as a response to potential American tariffs:

"We will go to the extent of cutting off their energy, going down to Michigan, going down to New York State and over to Wisconsin....we'll use every tool in our toolbox, including cutting them off energy that we're sending down there."

He also is threatening to cut off mineral exports to the U.S.:

"Canada has what the U.S. needs: high-grade nickel and critical minerals, energy and electricity, uranium, potash. If President Trump follows through with these tariffs, we can - and should - use every tool in our toolkit."

Cutting off electricity or mineral exports to the U.S. would be an economic and political disaster that would hurt Ontario more than the U.S. The Freedom Party of Ontario strongly opposes such reckless actions. 

Electricity

Ontario is blessed with an abundant, reliable, and affordable supply of electricity, largely produced from hydro, nuclear, and renewable sources. Our ability to generate more power than we consume has made Ontario an energy-exporting province, with substantial electricity sales to the United States. 

Ontario currently exports electricity to U.S. states such as New York, Michigan, and Minnesota, generating over $1 billion in annual revenue. This revenue helps offset the costs of maintaining Ontario's power grid, keeping electricity prices lower for Ontario families and businesses. By cutting off exports, we would lose this revenue, forcing Ontario to either raise hydro rates or subsidize electricity production through higher taxes. Either way, Ontarians would pay the price. 

Although Ontario supplies electricity to parts of the U.S., the American grid is highly diversified and capable of adjusting to supply disruptions. The U.S. would replace Ontario's electricity with power from other sources, including increased U.S. domestic production from natural gas, coal, and renewables. This means that Ontario would lose a key revenue stream while achieving nothing - except pushing U.S. states to permanently shift away from Ontario's power. 

Ontario's energy sector supports thousands of jobs. Cutting exports would shrink the market for Ontario- generated power, which would result in job losses not only in the energy sector but in all of the other Ontario industries that support it. 

Additionally, major industries depend on affordable electricity, including auto manufacturing, steel production, and high-tech industries. Higher electricity costs from lost export revenue would make Ontario a less attractive place for investment, driving businesses elsewhere. Ontario's power grid is physically interconnected with the U.S. through multiple transmission lines. These connections aren't just about trade-they help stabilize the grid by balancing electricity supply and demand. If we suddenly cut off exports, Ontario could face: 

• Grid instability, increasing the risk of blackouts.
  
  
• Inefficient power production, forcing Ontario to waste surplus electricity when demand is low.
  
  
• Higher costs for shutting down and restarting power plants unnecessarily.

Minerals

Ontario also has a wealth of minerals. Americans bought $30 billion worth of Canadian minerals in 2023. Our mining industry directly employs approximately 31,000 people, and indirectly employs another 46,000 people. 

Ontario's economy heavily relies on its mineral exports, particularly critical minerals which are essential for industries like electric vehicle manufacturing. Restricting these exports could lead to economic downturns within the province, affecting jobs and industries that depend on this trade. 

The United States is a primary market for Canadian minerals, with Canada being the largest mineral supplier to the U.S. Limiting these exports might push the U.S. to seek alternative suppliers, possibly from countries like China, which could lead to a long-term loss of market share for Canadian firms. This dependency means that any retaliation could backfire by permanently altering trade patterns. 

Cutting exports would shrink the market for Ontario's minerals, which would result in job losses in mining and in all of the other Ontario industries that support the mining industry. 

No Provincial Jurisdiction

Most importantly, Canada's constitution gives the federal government - not provincial government - power to make laws and policy over exports. Ontario's premier has no authority to cut off exports. Doug Ford's threats are just hot air. 

They are, however, dangerous hot air. If Americans hear Doug Ford's threats, and take them at all seriously, they will be motivated to cut off U.S. exports to Canada. Ford is playing a dangerous game that can only hurt Ontario. And he's doing it to make Ontario voters think he's a tough guy with powers that, in reality, he does not have. 

A Rational Approach: Keep It Real

A Freedom government will not make hollow threats that Ontario may cut off exports to the U.S.A. Instead, it will advocate that Canada's federal government not commit the self-destructive error of cutting off the export of Ontario's energy and minerals to the U.S.A. We will adopt long-term, market-based energy and mining policies that provide stability and economic growth on both sides of the border.