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Doug Ford is once again parlaying uncertain times into political success. Ford has continually proven that he's at his best when he's faced with a challenge. His government didn't botch COVID-19, sporting lower death rates than the surrounding provinces, and he managed to spin Donald Trump's anti-Canada threats into political support. Now, he's trying to make an individual impact on the Canada-US trade war by visiting Congresspeople and State officials.
The premier signed a memorandum of understanding with Utah on June 29 with Governor Spencer Cox and is now staying in the state to attend the annual Western Governors' Association meeting. Representatives from 22 states and U.S. territories are part of the gubernatorial organization, including some major states like California and Texas. With the Canada-US-Mexico trade agreement due for a mandatory review on July 1, it's no mistake that Doug Ford is dedicating time to powerful US governors this week.
Canada and the United States are always stronger when we work together to increase co-operation, collaboration and trade so we can grow the economy on both sides of the border,
-Doug Ford
Ford doing what Carney asked
Doug Ford is completing the objective that Prime Minister Mark Carney imbued in his premiers: build relationships with the US. It's become clear that many state governors and legislators are not pro-tariff like Donald Trump wants them to be. Several states that rely on duty-free trade with Canada have suffered under Trump's trade war, and Carney knows that states hold more power than many Canadians realize. With CUSMA up for review on July 1, the remaining duty-free trade between Canada and the US is at risk.
Currently, only 15 per cent of trade between Canada and the US is tariffed. The other 85 per cent is protected by CUSMA guarantees. The agreement guarantees free trade between the countries, and even Donald Trump was not able to circumvent the document. Trump has continually called CUSMA a terrible deal for the US, even though Trump is the one who created CUSMA. When Trump came into power in 2016, he abolished NATO, the trade agreement between the countries of North America. In its place, he created CUSMA. Now, he's claiming that CUSMA is an even worse deal than NATO, and he's blaming it on both Obama and Joe Biden.
MOU with Utah
Ford's latest agreement was signed with Utah Governor Spencer Cox during a visit to Salt Lake City. The MOE is establishing a three-year framework for cooperation in critical minerals, nuclear energy, defence manufacturing, artificial intelligence, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. The memorandum of understanding is designed to strengthen supply chains, encourage investment and create new business opportunities between Ontario and Utah. Provincial officials say the agreement builds on a broader effort to diversify Ontario's economic partnerships while maintaining strong commercial relationships with American states that remain important trading partners despite ongoing tensions between Ottawa and Washington.
Utah and Ontario share a strong commitment to building and powering the future. This agreement strengthens an already important trade relationship and supports good jobs on both sides of the border,
-Gov. Spencer Cox
Ford trying to save his political career
Doug Ford needs to be successful in the US. While his handling of crises in the past has boosted his popularity, the lack of crises over the last year has showcased how poor his handling of everything else is. A whopping 70 percent of Ontarians want Ford out of Queen's Park, and for good reason. Doug Ford has continually shown he does not care about union workers, first responders, healthcare workers, teachers, and other vital public servants.
Recently, he was booed off the stage of his own festival by hundreds of angry blue-collar workers. Teachers, nurses, and union workers all came out in droves to publicly shame the premier, and eventually he had to cut his speech short as he couldn't be heard over the well-deserved jeers. Fifty-six per cent of Ontarians believe Doug Ford is taking Ontario down the ‘wrong track', and support for his provincial conservatives has now dropped to 41 per cent, its lowest rating since Doug Ford's initial election win.
Ford at his best in the US
Their polling is telling us the same thing as our polling. If he's leaning into that, he does well. If we're talking about health care, if we're talking about housing or cost of living, he's not.
-Abacus president David Coletto
The same Abacus poll that showed Ford's waning numbers also showed the areas in which Ontarians do have confidence in their leader. Ford earned successful grades in his handling of the Canada-US trade war, earning the support of his constituents. Ontarians overwhelmingly believe Ford has handled the situation in the US well, and it's why his spending time in Utah this week bodes well. Ford knows where he is best, and he knows where Ontarians support him: when he leaves Ontario.
