Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has called on Ontario Premier Doug Ford to retract his comments about cutting off energy exports to the United States, warning that such a move could escalate tensions and have severe consequences for both countries. Ford made headlines recently by suggesting that Ontario could halt electricity exports to states like New York, Michigan, and Minnesota if the U.S., under incoming President Donald Trump, imposes tariffs on Canadian goods.
“I think it’s too dangerous to even talk about cutting off energy. Wars have been started over that kind of conversation,” Smith said during an interview with Global News on Monday. Alberta, which exports 4.3 million barrels of oil to the U.S. daily, has firmly rejected the idea of using energy exports as leverage, with Smith urging Ford to adopt a similar stance.
Ford, however, has doubled down on his remarks, stating, “If they come at us, we have to stand up for Canadians, we have to stand up for Ontarians.” He emphasized the potential impact of his proposal, claiming it would “turn off the lights to a million-and-a-half Americans.”
Public policy experts have warned that Ford’s comments could backfire, putting Ontario’s auto manufacturing sector—an essential part of its economy—at risk if the Trump administration retaliates. Smith echoed these concerns, describing energy exports as vital to U.S. national security and the economy. “We’ve got to walk that talk back,” Smith said, advocating for diplomacy over retaliation.
The premiers met on Monday at the Council of the Federation in Mississauga to discuss Canada’s response to potential U.S. tariffs. While retaliation wasn’t formally addressed during the meeting, Smith emphasized that Alberta’s preference for diplomacy has been communicated to Ford. She also cautioned against turning a trade dispute into a long-term conflict, calling such an escalation a “generational skirmish that would be very difficult to walk back.”
Despite the calls for restraint, Ford reiterated his stance during a CNN appearance on Tuesday, describing the threat to cut off electricity exports as a “tool that we have in the toolbox.” The ongoing debate underscores growing tensions as Canadian leaders prepare for potential trade challenges under the incoming U.S. administration.
