Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed Monday that Prime Minister Mark Carney called him “a couple of times” from Asia, asking him to take down an anti-tariff ad campaign that U.S. President Donald Trump blamed for halting bilateral trade talks.
The ad in question featured clips of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs — a move that reportedly angered Washington. Carney said over the weekend he told Ford the province should not air the ad, while Ford insists his recollection of their conversation differs.
“He called me from Asia a couple of times and said, ‘Pull the ad,’ and I said I wasn’t going to do it until Monday — and that’s exactly what we did,” Ford told reporters.
Trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. were cut off last month after Trump reacted to the Ontario ad campaign, threatening to impose another 10 per cent tariff on Canadian goods. Although Ford eventually paused the campaign, the ads continued running during World Series broadcasts before being pulled.
Carney later said he apologized to Trump for the ad, a gesture Ford says he was not informed about in advance. Despite the tensions, Ford emphasized that his relationship with Carney remains “great.”
The Prime Minister’s Office declined to elaborate, saying Carney “has addressed this issue” and remains focused on securing a trade deal that benefits both countries.
Ford continues to defend the ad, claiming it reached 12.4 billion views globally and even influenced a U.S. Senate resolution opposing tariffs.
“Because of that ad, the Republicans lost the vote,” Ford said in the legislature. “Four Republicans switched sides. It’s making a massive difference.”
Originally budgeted at $75 million to run through the winter, the campaign’s total cost is expected to be far lower now that it has been cancelled.
While trade talks have not resumed, Ottawa maintains it is ready to return to the table once Washington re-engages.
