Why Is Doug Ford the Only Premier Who Won’t Fold to Trump’s Economic Bullying?

Doug Ford, Ontario’s Premier, has emerged as the lone Canadian leader willing to strongly confront Donald Trump over looming tariff threats. While other premiers have quietly adopted the former president’s rhetoric on border security, Ford has made it clear that he won’t back down. If the incoming leader thinks he can impose tariffs without consequences, he’s in for a rude awakening. Bullies don’t fare well when they mess with the bull—and this time, they’re getting the Ford horns.

This should be a national show of strength, not a situation where some premiers cower in public and only put on a tough front behind closed doors. Where’s the Prime Minister’s tough talk? Where are the opposition leaders when Canada needs them to defend its interests? Instead of stepping up, we have leaders who capitulate in public, while perhaps pretending to be strong in private. It’s time for real leadership, not empty gestures or backroom posturing. The Premier is demonstrating that strength, and it’s time the rest of the country followed suit.

Ford’s approach stands in stark contrast to the passive responses of other provinces. While some scramble to comply with the incoming president’s demands, Ontario is prepared to take action. Threatening to restrict energy exports through Ontario Hydro is not just talk—it’s a reminder that Canada has leverage. This is a clear signal that the province will not be pushed around by Washington’s economic threats.

The absurdity of aligning with U.S. border security rhetoric is glaring. Historically, more people flee the United States for Canada than the other way around. During the former president’s first term, many who had already sought asylum in the U.S. rushed to Canada, fearing deportation due to his policies. The border crisis was with Canada was created by the former president’s threats of mass deportations, flooding the Canadian system with individuals who had already claimed asylum under the safe third country agreement. Moreover, the majority of migrants entering the U.S. come from Mexico, not Canada. Yet some provincial leaders are still tripping over themselves to appease the incoming president, parroting baseless fears instead of standing on the facts.

This migration crisis, in fact, cannot be fully understood without examining its root causes in the countries of origin. The U.S., as the largest importer of illegal drugs from Latin American nations such as Mexico and Colombia, has created a dire economic and social situation in those regions. The drug trade, fueled by the massive demand from U.S. consumers, has contributed to the destabilization of entire communities, leading to major violence, poverty, and economic disruption. These countries are forced to deal with the fallout, and their people, caught in the crossfire, have no choice but to flee in search of a safer future.

Unfortunately, this context is conveniently omitted from the U.S. narrative. Instead of acknowledging the role U.S. policies play in destabilizing these nations and pushing migrants northward, the conversation is reduced to rhetoric about border security and the supposed “flood” of migrants from the north. The real story—the root causes of this migration—is largely ignored by those in power, allowing the focus to remain on symptoms rather than addressing systemic causes.

In contrast, Ford understands that dealing with a tormentor like the former president requires strength, not submission. This isn’t the time for empty words or futile diplomacy. It’s time to stand firm, and Ford is showing exactly how it’s done. Trump’s strategy of intimidation only works when his opponents fail to stand up to him. The Premier is proving that if you don’t back down, you won’t be bullied.

By taking a firm stance, the Premier isn’t just defending Ontario’s interests—it’s setting the tone for the rest of Canada. This is about protecting Canadian sovereignty and ensuring that the nation’s interests are respected on the global stage. His resolve sends a clear message to the rest of Canada’s leaders: enough with the empty talk and capitulation. It’s time to fight back, and he is showing exactly how it’s done.

This isn’t just about Ontario’s future. It’s about Canada’s future. With the incoming president’s administration showing signs of continued aggression and economic threats, the firm stance taken by Ontario is needed now more than ever. Trudeau and other leaders must recognize that the era of capitulation to Washington’s demands must end. The U.S. has created its own migration crisis, and now it’s time for Canadian leaders to stop fearing the new administration and start confronting it head-on, as Ford is doing. The strength shown by the Ontario’ leader should inspire other premiers to stand up, not shrink away when its neighbors from the south comes calling. The time for tough talk is now, and it’s time for Canada to take a real stand.