Ontario Premier threatens to cut U.S. energy supply over tariffs

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has strongly opposed U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, warning that Ontario could retaliate by cutting off energy exports. “If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything – including cut off their energy, with a smile on my face,” Ford stated during a press briefing.

Canada has historically been a net electricity exporter to the United States, but trade patterns shifted in 2023. Reduced hydropower generation due to droughts and lower U.S. natural gas prices made U.S. electricity more competitive. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2023, the United States remained a net importer of Canadian power on an annual basis, but total imports dropped sharply from 42 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2022 to 15 TWh in 2023. By September 2023, the U.S. became a net electricity exporter to Canada for five of the next nine months.

Ford has called on other provinces, including Quebec, Manitoba, and British Columbia, to join Ontario in leveraging their energy exports to push back against U.S. tariffs. “They rely on our energy; they need to feel the pain,” Ford said.