Ford calls on Canadians to 'fight like we've never fought before' amid Trump threats

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Canadians should "fight like we've never fought before" to stand up for Canada in the face of "51st state" remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ford, who spoke at The Valuing Reconciliation in Global Markets Conference in downtown Toronto, said Monday that Trump's comments that express a desire to turn Canada into the 51st American state undermine Canadian sovereignty.

 "Folks, we have two choices here as a collective country," Ford said at the Sheraton Centre Hotel.

"We either all band together and support each other or we sit back and get rolled over by President Trump with a cement mixer. That's option one. Option two, we all fight like we've never fought before. I take option two. We'll never roll over. We'll never, ever be the 51st state, and I can tell you, Canada will never be for sale, especially for anyone, but not President Trump."

Ford drew a distinction between Trump and the American people.

"He's the problem," Ford said.

Ford said Trump has created "turmoil and chaos" in markets around the world through tariffs and that in turn has led to "economic uncertainty" hurting workers and businesses. The U.S. has applied 25 per cent tariffs to Canadian automobiles and 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products.

The premier said Ontario must rethink how it protects the provincial economy.

"We can no longer rely on the United States. Instead, we need to make Ontario more self-reliant and more resilient," he said.

Trump comments on Canadian election as polls open

Conference delegates applauded Ford's comments, which came after Trump took to social media platform Truth Social on Monday morning to express his desire for Canada to join the U.S. 

"Good luck to the Great people of Canada," Trump said, commenting on the Canadian election minutes before polls opened.

"Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the World, have your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America," Trump continued.

"No more artificially drawn line from many years ago. Look how beautiful this land mass would be. Free access with NO BORDER. ALL POSITIVES WITH NO NEGATIVES. IT WAS MEANT TO BE! America can no longer subsidize Canada with the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year that we have been spending in the past. It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!"

In recent months, Ford has appeared on U.S. network shows to explain how U.S. tariffs hurt not only Canada but also the U.S.

On its website, the conference says it brings together industry, government, and Indigenous-owned corporations to examine how businesses are achieving success by partnering with Indigenous Peoples and respecting their rights.