OTTAWA - Following a tumultuous weekend in which Donald Trump threatened Canada with steep tariffs on all goods, only to back down, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre angrily criticized the US president for bringing Canadians together right before his planned election campaign.
Ford folded: after the tariff decision was paused (not cancelled, paused) dutifully restocked shelves and the overpaid StarLink deal is back on.
His “Canada is not For Sale” schtick is just that: a schtick. Mark my words, if Trump wanted to build housing on greenbelt land, Ford would Get It (Doug Ford) Done! He (Ford) is the most for-sale politician in the country, and that’s saying something when you’re competing with Danielle Smith.
Susan Holt in NB did a good job. American goods are still off the shelves.
Trump is engaged in brinksmanship and we need US trade more than vice versa. I think the correct move is to publicly back down - but also remind Canadians that a one month reprieve is nothing.
Once you play a card, you lose it. Right now Ford can still play that card. Manitoba can’t (and that makes the national level impact weaker).