Tensions Rise Between Ontario Premier Ford and Prime Minister Carney Over Trade and Projects

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney enjoyed a smooth rapport early in 2024, highlighted by a mid-March breakfast that signaled bipartisan goodwill. The dynamic shifted when Ford’s provincial government launched a two-week U.S. advertising campaign criticizing American trade policies, prompting friction in Carney’s delicate talks with Washington. Ford’s hard-line stance on tariffs and his surprise proposal to enlarge Toronto’s Billy Bishop airport further alienated the federal side, leading Transportation Minister Steve MacKinnon to publicly reject the plan.

Meanwhile, Ottawa has signaled waning enthusiasm for the $90 billion Alto high-speed rail link, and Carney’s absence from the Gordie Howe bridge opening underscored the growing divide. Both leaders now face political headwinds, with Ford’s government trailing the Liberals in polls and Carney grappling with communication missteps. Their ability to reconcile differences will shape Ontario-Canada relations ahead of upcoming elections.