Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his province’s advertising campaign will continue through the weekend – during the first two games of the World Series – but will be paused, effective Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social account Thursday (Oct. 23) to blast the ad campaign, saying Canada “fraudulently used an advertisement … featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs.” He ended the post saying that all trade negotiations with Canada were terminated.
Trump was back on Truth Social Friday to blast the ad.
The Ronald Reagan President Foundation and Institute posted to X on Thursday that it had learned the Ontario government had “created an ad campaign using selective audio and video” of President Ronald Reagan’s “Radio Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade” from April 25, 1987.
The foundation said the ad misrepresents the address, and that the Ontario government didn’t seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks. The post says the foundation is reviewing its legal options.
The ad was unveiled by Ford’s government on social media on Oct. 16. The one-minute ad uses parts of five-minute address from Reagan over top of clips of workers, families and the United States.
“When someone says ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting America products and jobs and sometimes for a short while it works. But only for a short time. But over the long run, such trade barriers, hurt every American worker and consumer,” Reagan says in the ad.
“High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. Then the worst happens: Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down and millions of people lose their jobs. Throughout the world there’s a growing realization that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition. America’s job and growth are at stake.”
In a post to X Friday, Ford said his government’s intention was “always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses.”
He said that goal has been achieved, reaching U.S. audiences at “the highest levels,” and he’s since directed his team to keep putting the message out over the weekend to air during the first two World Series games between the Toronto Blue Jays and the L.A. Dodgers.
Following a conversation with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ford said the ad campaign would be suspended Monday.
Ontario isn’t the only Canadian province running ads south of the border.
B.C. Premier David Eby announced on Oct. 14 that his government would be running an ad campaign in the U.S. to raise awareness among legislators that Russia has preferential access to the American market for softwood lumber products compared to Canada.
Eby and Forests Minister Ravi Parmar are calling for more support from the federal government after the U.S. tacked on 10-per-cent tariffs on lumber, to be added onto the 35 per cent duties already in place.
Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon told Black Press Media Friday that the B.C. NDP government is still planning it’s ad campaign, regardless of Trump’s pushback.
“We’re not going to be spending millions of dollars, but we will be doing some targeted ads to support our forest industry because, at this point, we are not seeing the level of conversation between Canada and the U.S. that we need.”
Kahlon said Trump has had an “on-and-off switch on trade talks given any situation that arises.”
“This is on him, if he wants to pause talks. It’s our responsibility as provinces to also communicate to the public directly and in this case to the citizens of the United States. Tariffs are gonna hurt them. Tariffs are gonna raise their costs. Tariffs are gonna have impact on jobs on the other side of the border.”
The jobs minister added that the impact on forestry is “profound” and the B.C. government has “no choice,” but to speak to U.S. citizens directly.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday that she’s pleased to see Ontario’s ad campaign being suspended, and urged the federal government to continue negotiating and resolve the tariff issues.
“I remain convinced that the path to a positive resolution with our U.S. partners lies in strong, consistent diplomacy and a commitment to working in good faith toward shared priorities such as North American energy dominance.”