Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed his frustration towards Prime Minister Mark Carney regarding the deal with China on electric vehicles, mentioning that they have not communicated since then. Ford mentioned on Monday that he was disappointed as Carney did not inform him about the deal before his visit to China the previous week.
Carney recently negotiated a deal with China allowing up to 49,000 electric vehicles to enter Canada with a reduced tariff rate of 6.1 per cent. In return, tariffs on Canadian canola and some seafood were dropped. Carney highlighted that Chinese companies are interested in manufacturing “affordable” electric vehicles in Canada, presenting an opportunity for Ontario.
However, Ford raised concerns about the impact of the deal on Ontario’s auto sector, already struggling due to challenges from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed a lack of interest in Canadian-made cars.
Ford criticized the lack of partnership in the deal, emphasizing that he and auto companies were informed only a few hours before the public announcement. This incident has strained the relationship between Ford and Carney.
Carney and Ford had developed a close relationship after Carney assumed office as prime minister. Ford had praised Carney’s business acumen and supported him, contrasting his previous criticisms of Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
During Carney’s recent trip to China, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe accompanied him to address the tariffs imposed on canola. The deal involved reducing tariffs on Canadian canola seed and temporarily lifting tariffs on canola meal in exchange for Ottawa’s concessions on electric vehicles.
Ford criticized the deal’s implications for Ontario, expressing his belief that Carney had made a detrimental agreement with China, which could harm the province.
Ford urged the federal government to take action by eliminating the electric vehicle mandate and aligning regulations with trading partners. Carney aimed to use the electric vehicle deal to attract more investments to Canada, according to Ontario Liberal trade critic Stephanie Bowman.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner criticized Ford for lacking a plan for the electric vehicle market, suggesting the need for rebates and a procurement strategy to boost demand for Ontario-made electric vehicles.
Despite global demand for electric vehicles increasing, major projects in Ontario have faced delays due to market challenges and uncertainties stemming from Trump’s trade policies.