By Ray Rivers
October 24th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Well there he goes again. Doug Ford, aka “Wreck-it-Ralph” has struck again. Why would he think it a good idea to spend $75 million on US ads meddling in a pond where he has no right to be wading. International trade is federal jurisdiction. Carney apparently has a play-nice strategy and Ford just up-ended that and cut him off at the knee caps.
Carney apparently has a play-nice strategy and Ford just up-ended that and cut him off at the knee caps.
Besides, we are in an economic war. The last thing we should be doing is spending Canadian tax dollars to support the US economy. Americans are pretty thick about these things, but even MAGA republicans will remember Ronald Reagan’s rant on free trade. So what was the point of wasting our money on another ill-conceived, naive and blockheaded scheme. And, seriously, there are so many other better places to use our tax dollars.
Ford is like a child who needs attention – a show-off – jumping on the side of any issues he thinks is popular.
Ford is like a child who needs attention – a show-off – jumping on the side of any issues he thinks is popular – a populist. And he’s anything but consistent, pouring out the contents of a bottle of Crown Royal, in the same breath that he is conning the feds to spending billions of US dollars on an unproven SMR nuke which will require US enriched nuclear fuel imports into eternity.
One has to remember the last time Ford went one-on-one with Trump, threatening to apply an export surtax on electricity. Well that went badly for him, and embarrassing for us, when Trump raised the stakes forcing Ford to back down. What do we call someone who refuses to learn from his mistakes?
So the question is whether the equally fickle Mr. Trump will get down off his high horse and come back to the negotiating table, or whether trade talks are back to square one. In that regard it was good to see the feds impose new tariffs on GM and Stellantis/Chrysler until these companies can come back to producing cars in Canada. It’s high time Mr. Carney stopped bending the knee for Trump.
This is not the first time Trump has cancelled trade talks with us and that tells me that he isn’t really interested. Even if Carney could talk him back to the table, what other minor irritation would he use as a cancellation pretext next time around? To be clear there was nothing illegal in what Mr. Ford did – just playing the actual Reagan tape – but he is out of his league.
So shame on you Mr Ford and on you Mr. Trump….. and don’t we wish that Mr. Carney would just grow a pair.
Penny, Poilievre would do far better negotiating with Trump than Carney, don’t think personality, but think policy and what Trumps “hot buttons” are. Trump is about the economy and growth and reducing their deficit. The Conservatives would remove the emissions cap on oil in Alberta immediately. The Americans would love to have another 1 million to 2 million bpd from Canada. Canadian oil is a great deal for America, and it allows them to ship more of their light oil abroad at world prices – this is highly lucrative.
The Conservatives would play tough with China, Liberals are in bed with the Chinese. Our government’s relationship with China is very concerning to the US.
A pipeline to the Pacific would strengthen are negotiating position with the US. Right now the US has all the cards.
The conservatives would kill the EV mandate, reduce corporate taxes, all reinvested capital gains in Canada tax free and remove the industrial carbon tax. All these things add certainty for business, makes us more competitive and give us cards to negotiate with. Business investment is flowing out of Canada at an alarming rate right now.
On foreign affairs, the Conservatives have long supported Israel and condemned Hamas. The liberal position is a clear irritant to the US, and actually Carney’s latest comment regarding Netanyahu was surely a slap in the face to the US.
I could go on, but you get my point, think policy, not personality. The liberals want to make this about personalities and have Canadians forget policy.
Every province is about power…no diffsrent than the US legislators.
Optics have become the name of the game for most of our Premiers. It”s too bad because being united is setting the bar higher…we need to row in the same lane if we,re not going to be picked off by Trump. When will we learn that there is strength when we are on the same page?
If Ford’s Reagan commercial died on airing I might be inclined to agree with you. But it didn’t. It is subject of comment all over the world, especially since it got under Mr. Trump’s skin in a big way. It is an “emperor has no clothes” moment. I think it is a good thing to remind non-mega Republicans about the thoughts of one of their favourite Presidents.
Your column suffers a lack of logic. First, you claim Ford cut Carney off at the knees when he was trying to play nice wth the U.S. President. Then you complain that Carney is not standing up for Canada. Well which is it? I applaud Mr. Ford’s boldness. Perhaps that will be the Carney stimulus you think he lacks.
As to those who commented “it is all just words”, it is good to remember that words precede action, action in diversifying markets takes time. I am also heartened by the declaration that we will minimize our military expenditures in the U.S., currently running at 70 cents of every dollar, and perhaps replace the F-35 with the Gripen. There is also a plan to use Canadian resources in infrastructure projects. We are moving apace.
Mr. Carney sold the Canadian voters a bill of goods to be elected. Many people voted Liberal because they didn’t like Pierre Poilievre. Would Pierre Poilievre do any better against Trump? I doubt it. Trump will do what Trump wants.
Was the ad that Doug Ford ran the real reason for the increased tariffs and shutting down the trade talks? I doubt it. I have read a few articles that indicate that the ad was not the real reason for cancelling the trade talks.
We have seen leaders of the world bow at the feet of Trump. The more they stroke his fragile ego the better deal he will give their country. Quite honestly in my opinion, it is embarrassing to watch.
I have also read that Mr. Trump does not like Mr. Carney. But then Mr. Trump doesn’t like many people, especially anyone that challenges him.
Mr. Carney is looking to double the markets in countries that Canada does trade with. My question is just how much will this amount to when comparing what our trade is with the U.S. I have heard it is miniscule.
I think Canadians are in for a rough ride.
And, why would you think Carney was not aware of the commercial that Ford was running – Abbot and Costello are joined at the hip.
Could you imagine the out cry if the Americans were to run an add in Canada to influence Lieberal policy? Rosemary Barton’s head would explode.
But didn’t you all want Carney to run things? He was going to be everybody’s saviour & stick it to Trump. Haven’t seen much of anything have we, lots of hollow words with nothing to back them up – we’re going to do this we’re going to do that, how, oh well we’ll let you know how later, ie when we figure out the next story to spin on the electorate hoping they might buy our BS. Lots of backtracking, cancelling tariffs on American goods, bending the knee to Trump.
Frankly its looking like the feds dont want a deal. Their plan is to keep blaming Trump and either call an election or fall and run on fear again. Its about power and control
Carney and Ford are Canada’s Laurel & Hardy however they are anything but funny.
With the clear lack of leadership and direction in this country it is little wonder the country is a hot mess. I think it is broken at least for our children and grandchildren.
Their would be replacements are not qualified or competent.
I won’t even bother commenting on the Burlington Council and our more than 40% increase in property taxes though their term. Unbelievable and they will be disguising a gift to developers. Just wait and you will see.
Is it worth even casting any vote in the future?
Canada needs complete reconstruction however that will be left for future generations. Perhaps a 51st state option should be at least on the table for discussion.
PS: Carney lacks a pair of boys, elbows, and shoulders or a competent team. He is the water or bat boy at best.
I would vote to keep running the Reagan commercial .We need to fight back .
Carney keeps caving in and it has not helped at all.We need to match tariffs where possible.We will need the money to pay thousands of workers on UI.
BTW the commercial is runnning on social media Free and will multiply the viewing dramatically.
Absolutely not. The last thing we need to is give billions to this out of control Liberal government to squander. We need to immediately make it more attractive for companies to stay and expand.
Of course, another problem…Trumps set is definitely bigger than Carney’s. Oh, what to do? What to do?
Trump hasn’t seen his “set” in 20 years and that was out on Jeff’s island in the sun.