Ontario Premier Doug Ford has congratulated U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on another term in office as the Associated Press has projected him as the winner of the U.S. election.
“I want to congratulate the president-elect and the vice-president elect but if it would have went the other way, I’d be working with them as well,” Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park.
“It’s about a strong Team Canada, Team Ontario approach. And I’m very confident we’ll have a very rewarding relationship with the new administration.”
Ford pointed out he had already worked with Trump during his first term. Ford’s first two years in power overlapped with Trump’s last two between 2018 and 2020.
“We dealt with him before, right? We dealt with him for a couple of years when he was in office,” Ford said. “He knows that we’re a very important trading partner, he knows that nine million Americans wake up every morning to make products for Ontario. He knows that we’re the third largest trading partner in the world.”
Asked if he was worried about the prospect of tariffs from the United States potentially hitting Canadian and Ontarian exports, Ford brushed off the suggestion.
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“He tried that last time and that didn’t last too long — it lasted about four weeks,” he said.
Ford said he had already been in contact with Deputy Prime Minister and the Quebec Premier to discuss how to work together to approach the U.S.
“We’re going to work with the federal government,” he said. “I also talked through text message with Premier (François) Legault. We want to make it very clear to the federal government, we need to be involved.”
“I want to offer my congratulations to Donald Trump and JD Vance on their election as the next President and Vice President of the United States of America,” Ford said.
“Ontario and the United States share one of the most important and enduring friendships in the world, built on strong economic ties, shared values, national security interests and integrated supply chains.”
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The premier’s remarks at Queen’s Park came after he issued a statement congratulating Trump on his victory and urging the new administration to “bet big” on the Ontario-U.S. relationship.
According to the Associated Press, Tuesday’s U.S. election saw Republican candidate Trump win another non-consecutive term at the White House. Trump defeated Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris.
JD Vance is Trump’s vice president-elect.
So far, the Associated Press indicates as of Wednesday morning that Trump has won 277 electoral college votes — only 270 is needed to win. Meanwhile, Harris has 244 electoral college votes. In total, there are 538 electoral college votes.
“Now is the time to bet big on the U.S.-Ontario relationship,” Ford said.
Ahead of the election, Ontario had engaged in a charm offensive with the United States, focusing particularly on governors to help carry the trade partnership message, whoever was set to win.
Ford rearranged his internal team to put additional emphasis on promoting Ontario south of the border in September.
Ford’s deputy chief of staff, Travis Kann, was given the responsibility of working on U.S. relations. The premier’s office appointed Kann as the new head of the Ontario-United States Engagement and Advocacy office with a focus on “enhancing the province’s economic and relational ties with the U.S. including key states.”
Other Canadian politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also congratulated Trump in a post on X.
“The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world,” Trudeau said. “I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations.”
— with files from Global News’ Colin D’Mello
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