Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed satisfaction with the Ontario government’s recent anti-tariff advertisement featuring former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s words. Ford praised the campaign’s success, noting it garnered over a billion impressions and sparked widespread discussion among U.S. media outlets.
The one-minute TV ad, launched on October 14, utilized a voiceover from Reagan’s 1987 radio address on free trade, accompanied by cinematic visuals of American landscapes and workers. The ad’s impact led to President Donald Trump halting trade negotiations with Canada, citing the ad as a key factor.
Despite Trump’s criticism of the ad as fraudulent, Ford clarified that the objective was not to provoke the president but to highlight the adverse effects of tariffs on American workers and businesses. Consequently, Ford decided to pull the ad following discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney to facilitate the resumption of trade talks between the two countries.
Ford emphasized that Carney was informed of the campaign before its release, and reiterated his commitment to solidarity among Canadian premiers in supporting efforts against Trump’s trade policies. The premier’s office disclosed a $75 million budget for the campaign, which aired on various American networks during prominent sports events.
In response to concerns raised by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute regarding the ad’s usage of Reagan’s remarks, Ford defended the commercial’s legitimacy, citing Reagan’s public domain speeches advocating against tariffs. The foundation indicated it is exploring legal options in response to the ad.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles criticized Ford’s campaign, accusing him of prioritizing grandiose advertisements over addressing critical local issues. Similarly, Ontario Liberal interim leader John Fraser questioned Ford’s motives behind the ad, labeling it as a reckless decision that diverted attention from pressing provincial matters.
