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An 11th hour reprieve has come from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Shortly after 4:30 this afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released the following statement:
“I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.
In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million.
Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”
As turbulent times continue on Parliament Hill, Trudeau’s announcement received a positive reaction.
“Like Canadians across the country, Conservatives are relieved to hear that there will be a one month pause on tariffs from the United States that would have hurt workers, families and businesses on both sides of the border,” stated Pierre Poilievre. “But this is not a time to sit back. We must urgently work to strengthen Canada’s economy and do everything we can to ensure these tariffs are never brought in. Liberals must recall Parliament NOW and put country over Party so that we can put Canada First.”
“The tariffs being paused is good news for Canada and Canadian workers,” said NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. “It means standing up to Donald Trump’s threats is working. But his threats won’t stop. We need to make our economy less reliant on unreliable allies. We need to buy Canadian and build Canadian to create good jobs here.”
Former Finance Minister and Liberal Party leadership race candidate Chrystia Freeland weighed in saying, “Bravo, Team Canada! Proof that we succeed when we are strong, smart, and united. Together, we will get through this.”
This comes after Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford announced that he was “ripping up” Ontario’s nearly $100 million contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink in response to U.S. tariffs on virtually all Canadian goods. The contract, signed in November 2024, was meant to provide high-speed internet access through Starlink’s satellite service to 15,000 eligible homes and businesses in rural, remote and northern communities by June of this year.
Within minutes of Trudeau’s announcement, Ford released the following statement:
“We have some good news today. We have temporarily averted tariffs that would have severely damaged our economy, giving time for more negotiation and time for cooler heads to prevail. Thank you to the countless workers, union leaders, businesses and everyday proud Canadians who rallied together to make this happen. With the U.S. pausing tariffs, Ontario will also pause our retaliatory measures. If President Trump proceeds with tariffs, we won’t hesitate to remove American products off LCBO shelves or ban American companies from provincial procurement. Make no mistake, Canada and Ontario continue to stare down the threat of tariffs. Whether it’s tomorrow, in a month or a year from now when we’re renegotiating the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, President Trump will continue to use the threat of tariffs to get what he wants. We’re already feeling the impact. So long as our trading relationship with our largest trading partner is up in the air, we will continue to see many potential projects frozen and projects that were already under way put at risk. Canada and the U.S. need to remain united and focused on the real trade war we’re fighting, with China. If we want to win, we need to fight together – not each other.”
Earlier in the day, Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie praised Ford’s decision, saying that she was happy that “this ridiculous contract is being canceled. The Ontario Liberals have been calling for this to happen for weeks.”
Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles said the pause in tariff action gives Ontario the breathing space it needs to plan how it will move forward.
“A 30 day reprieve is a relief, but what we do with that time will make the difference,” Stile wrote in a post on X. “We can’t change the fact that the premier has thrown us into an election. But we can use this time to regroup as Team Canada and get to work building a more tariff-proof Ontario.”
Donald Trump has also backed away from his threat to impose steep tariffs on Mexico but U.S. tariffs on China were still due to take effect.
In another planned retaliatory move against Trump’s tariffs, which were due to come into effect January 4th, Ford had stated that Ontario will ban American companies from provincial contracts until U.S. tariffs are removed. He had also called for the removal of American liquor from LCBO shelves. Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Quebec also stated that they will no longer sell American booze if the tariffs were implemented.
The announcement that Ford is pausing the cancellation of its contract with Starlink may bring a sigh of relief from residents of the north. After 705BLACKFLY.COM posted news of the announcement to our Facebook page this morning, we were flooded with comments about the cancellation and concerned readers wanting to know how rural and underserved regions of Ontario will get the promised Internet service.
Dru: So what is Doug doing to get the internet service to those customers? Not being critical but interested to see what is going to be done.
Kevin: I can understand not wanting to have anything to do with American businesses but until we have an implemented alternative to Starlink for rural areas it should stay.
Sue: I must say I’m rather surprised that with all that this “trade war” is going to include — the most responses I’ve seen on any page I post on is WHAT ABOUT THE INTERNET? Seriously? Maybe I’m nuts but my worries far exceed what’s going to happen to the internet.
705BLACKFLY.COM reached out to SJ Installs – who provides Starlink kit installation across Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Baysville, Dwight, Huntsville, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Timmins, Kenora, Elliot Lake, Dryden. They confirmed that while existing Starlink customers would not have been impacted by the cancellation of the contract, it could have had a significant impact on small, Canadian-owned businesses in Ontario.
“The tariffs hurt people on both sides but especially Canadians and small businesses in rural and underserved areas of northern Ontario,” says Scott Ray, owner and founder of SJ Installs. “Our hope is that we can ramp up to meet the demand of high-speed Internet in rural areas”.
This afternoon, prior to the 30-day pause being announced, Ontario Greens Deputy Leader and Parry Sound–Muskoka candidate Matt Richter, who has been advocating for greater attention to the needs of rural Ontario, released the following statement.
“Doug Ford’s government is quick to make announcements in Toronto, but when it comes to rural Ontario, we’re treated like an afterthought. That’s unacceptable. Reliable internet is the backbone of modern life, and rural Ontario deserves nothing less.”
We have reached out to PC candidate Graydon Smith’s office for comment but were unable to get a statement in time for publication. We will publish it as soon as it is received.
And Elon Musk’s response to Ford’s Starlink announcement? “Oh well”.
A new Angus Reid poll released about an hour after Trudeau’s and Ford’s statements indicate that Doug Ford and the PCPO have a big advantage early in the provincial election campaign. The poll states that Ford’s personal unpopularity continues to have little impact on Ontarian vote intentions. If an election were held today, more than two-in-five (43%) say they would support Ford’s party, while the Ontario Liberals (26%) and Ontario NDP (21%) fight for second place.
