Ford has effectively run a typical Liberal government with big spending, growing debt and an increasingly uncompetitive economy. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.
Despite winning the recent Ontario election under the banner of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, Doug Ford has for years been accused of being a closet Liberal. And with good reason. Ford was initially elected in 2018 with promises to reduce taxes on individuals and businesses, cut back on government size and cost, reduce the amount of suffocating red tape on business, bring the province’s books back into balance and get the woke madness out of our public education system, among other campaign commitments.
None of these things have happened – in fact, they have mostly gotten even worse. The odd exception such as the elimination of license plate fees and temporary reduction of gas taxes notwithstanding, Ford has effectively run a typical Liberal government with big spending, growing debt and an increasingly uncompetitive economy that is driving away the productive businesses that are so badly needed for the province’s future.
One of Ford’s worst compromises has been his cozying up to the destructive Trudeau government on so many public policy issues. Examples include his pandemic response, which involved measures that led to the decimation of thousands of Ontario’s small businesses and the imposition of draconian restrictions on households. Ontario also went along with the federal Liberals’ foolish environmental policies, including continued expenditures on failed experiments such as wind and solar power and the billions spent on promoting electric vehicle battery plants that are looking like the biggest white elephants ever financed by government in Canada’s history.
More recently, Ford has chosen to team up with the federal Liberals in waging a phoney and damaging to Canada tariff war against the United States. This stance has attracted political support, while undoubtedly hurting our businesses and our economy. It will be interesting to see whether or not that political support will continue when Canadians start to lose their jobs, should the tariff war continue.
Ford has also crossed swords with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on the issue of imposing restrictions on energy exports to the United States. Ford recently said he was imposing a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S., and has encouraged Smith to follow suit with energy exports from Alberta. The reality is that electricity exports from Ontario are chump change compared to the massive amount of oil and gas that Alberta exports to the U.S. daily, so the situations of the two provinces are far from comparable. Smith has been the lead Canadian Premier to have pursued a very proactive negotiating stance with U.S. representatives and, although she has expressed her disappointment, has made some progress with reduced U.S. tariffs on some commodities as a result.
Just this week Smith posted on social media X that Ford said Alberta might have to give approval for a federal tax on oil and gas from Alberta to the United States. She also noted that the brand spanking new Liberal leader and unelected prime minister-designate Mark Carney has also mused about this. Easy for them to say, as Ontario has nowhere near as much at stake as Alberta and Carney is well known to oppose Canada’s energy wealth in general, no matter how much benefit its development could help Canadians.
Canada has been in a very difficult and deteriorating economic situation for several years, largely because of federal Liberal and some provincial government policies that have weakened our economy. These self-inflicted wounds have made us more vulnerable to threats from the Trump administration and others such as China and Russia, which are threatening our north. Further weakening ourselves by imposing reciprocal tariffs and export taxes on the U.S. is a foolish choice when sensible negotiations can lead to a better outcome for Canada.
The Ontario government should be protecting our interests against a problematic federal government, not allying themselves with it. As there has proven to be short-term political gain in the melodrama of standing up to the U.S., despite the prospect of long-term damage to Canadian business, governments have fallen into line. Sadly, the phrase “cutting off your nose to spite your face” comes to mind when thinking of the Canadian response to the U.S. tariffs.
Even better, why don’t our governments take this opportunity to put in place policies to reduce taxes, shrink government and otherwise improve Canada’s competitive position for the future? That would be more difficult than the cheap thrills of politicians thumping their chests and pretending to stand up against the American bully while hobbling our own businesses and future economic prospects. But it would surely be more meaningful and beneficial for Ontario and Canada in the long run.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals.
