‘Direct attack on our auto workers’: At campaign stop in London, Ford focuses on Trump’s tariff threats

The Progressive Conservatives were in London Thursday with a clear message about Trump’s tariff threats. CTV’s Gerry Dewan reports.

Volkswagen’s PowerCo electric vehicle battery plant is viewed as a game-changer for this region. An enormous facility that’s projected to be the fourth largest building in the world. But now it has an enormous black cloud over it, created by tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

During a campaign stop in London, Ford told those gathered, “We’re entering a period of unprecedented economic risk in the lengthy negotiations against President Trump.”

Barely mentioning his election opponents, Ford continued to position himself as the leader who can stand against Trump and defend Ontario jobs, “We also have to be prepared for a direct attack on our auto workers.”

Ford used a visit to auto parts maker Starlim North America to announce a $1 billion boost the province’s skills development fund. That’s in addition to the current $1.5 billion commitment.

He also announced more money for the Better Jobs Ontario program, and $38 million to mobilize action centres in the event of layoffs.

Ford is also calling on the federal government to step up, “They need to urgently expand employment insurance and wage earner protection program so that any worker laid off as a result of President Trump’s tariffs has the support they need.”

The provincial government has invested $45 billion in EV battery plants across Ontario.

Along with the tariff threat, Trump is ending subsidies for electric vehicles raising questions about future sales.

Ford believes the EV market will continue to grow, “We’ve seen increase of, I think it’s about 18 per cent year over year on the EV sector. But we’re going to be here to support the sector. We’re going to be here to support the workers.”

Agriculture is also part of the backbone of the southwestern Ontario economy – and is also vulnerable to tariffs.

Agriculture Minister Rob Flack believes the province has a strong defense on that front as well, “$45 billion is the trade between the U.S. and Ontario – not Canada – the U.S. and Ontario. $45 billion! And we’re basically at balance. In fact, Ontario has a slight – a slight – trade deficit with the U.S. So think about what advantage there’s going to be to add tariffs to products coming into the U.S. from Canada. Our fruit/vegetable sector, greenhouse, 87 per cent go to the U.S. They’re just going to raise cost to the American consumer.”

After his announcement at Starlim, Doug Ford took part in a tour of the Labatt brewing facility in downtown London. Then he was off to Vaughan to meet with members of the Laborers' International Union.