Starlink contract to be ‘ripped up’, U.S. alcohol immediately pulled from shelves as part of Ford’s retaliation measures. (Courtesy: CPAC)
In a bold move against the Trump administration’s 25 per cent tariff levy, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has unveiled a series of retaliatory measures, including pulling U.S. alcohol from LCBO shelves and cancelling Starlink contracts with Elon Musk.
Ford made the announcement on Tuesday, just hours after Trump’s tariffs and Canada’s retaliatory tariffs came into effect.
“We have no choice, we have to respond,” Ford said while speaking to reporters.
Ford said he will be launching the first round of retaliatory measures immediately,, starting with the LCBO removing U.S. products from its shelves and catalogs.
The LCBO has confirmed in a statement that “spirits, wine, cider, beer, ready-to-drink coolers/cocktails, and non-alcoholic products produced in the U.S. will no longer be available in our retail stores or LCBO Convenience Outlets,” as of today.
A post on X shows staff in Kitchener, ON with a cart packed with U.S. alcohol as employees remove them from shelves shortly before Ford’s announcement.
Ford went on to say that all U.S. companies will be banned from taking part in government procurements, which means that U.S.-based companies will lose out on “tens of billions of dollars.”
As a result, the Starlink contract and agreement with the Ontario government is being “ripped up” by the Ford government, he said. The contract was announced in November to bring high speed internet access to 15,000 homes including in rural and remote areas.
“It’s done, it’s gone, we won’t award contracts to people who enable and encourage economic attacks on our province and our country,” he said.
Ford also said he’s prepared to use every tool in what could be a long fight, which includes immediately applying a 25-per cent surcharge on the electricity Ontario exports to New York state, Michigan and Minnesota if Trump’s tariffs persist.
“We will not hesitate to shut off their power as well,” he said.
Ford went on to say that “we need to make sure America feels the pain.”
