National

How it started, how it ended: A chronology of Ontario's ad blitz against U.S. tariffs

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Nov, 2025 02:14 PM

Here is a day-by-day chronology of the controversy over Ontario's advertising campaign against U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods:

Tues., Oct. 14: The office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the province will spend $75 million to broadcast an anti-tariff ad in the United States using video of an address by former U.S. president Ronald Reagan, who said in 1987 that in the long run, "such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer."

Tues., Oct. 21: A day after the ad airs during a broadcast of a baseball playoff game won by the Toronto Blue Jays, U.S. President Donald Trump says he saw the commercial, adding "if I was Canada I'd take that same ad also."

Thu., Oct. 23: The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute says the ad misrepresents Reagan's remarks and that Ontario did not seek or receive permission to "use and edit the remarks."

Trump says he is ending trade negotiations with Canada over the commercial.

The ad isn't a "fake" as Trump claims, but Reagan's quotes are spliced together from different sections of the original speech.

Ford's office defends the ad.

Fri., Oct. 24: Trump accuses Canada of "cheating" by saying that Reagan did not like tariffs, which Trump claims the late president "loved."

David McLaughlin and Geoff Norquay, who worked as senior policy advisers for former prime minister Brian Mulroney, say the ad did not misconstrue Reagan's views on trade.

Ford says his government will pull the ad after the weekend, though it's still set to run during the first two games of the World Series.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew encourages Ford to keep the ad campaign going, saying Trump's tariffs betray Reagan's legacy.

Sat., Oct. 25: Trump says the U.S. will impose an additional 10 per cent tariff on Canadian goods because Ontario didn't immediately pull down the ad.

Mon., Oct. 27: Ford vows he will "never apologize" for pushing back against hostile trade measures designed to poach jobs from his province.

Fri., Oct. 31: Trump says Prime Minister Mark Carney apologized for the ad but the U.S. president adds that trade talks are not resuming.

Sat., Nov. 1: Carney confirms he apologized to Trump and says he told Ford he didn't think the province should run the ad campaign.

Sun., Nov. 2: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the ad amounted to foreign interference in American public policy.

Mon., Nov. 3: Ford says Carney called him "a couple of times" from a trip to Asia to ask him to pull the ad campaign.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Feds list criminal organizations as terrorist entities to fight fentanyl trafficking

The federal government says seven transnational criminal organizations are being listed as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code to fight fentanyl trafficking. The move is the latest federal measure to bolster security in response to American criticism.

Feds list criminal organizations as terrorist entities to fight fentanyl trafficking

Old-growth logging was 'goal' of Interfor: B.C. Forest Appeals Commission decision

The commission issued the decision last week, upholding the finding that Interfor committed eight contraventions of the Forest and Range Practices Act with the logging between 2012 and 2016 in the Arrow Lakes area of southeastern B.C. The timber had a market value of about $4.4 million, and the estimated economic benefit was more than $1.8 million after subtracting the company's costs, it said.

Old-growth logging was 'goal' of Interfor: B.C. Forest Appeals Commission decision

Dr. Monty Ghosh: Shaping New Pathways in Addiction and Homelessness Care

Another catalytic project led by Dr. Ghosh is the National Overdose Response Service (NORS), a lifeline for individuals using substances alone. What began as an idea inspired by a patient’s innovative approach to virtual support has blossomed into a nationwide initiative. The emergency line aims to provide immediate support to people and ensure that they aren't using drugs alone.

Dr. Monty Ghosh: Shaping New Pathways in Addiction and Homelessness Care

Canadian Armed Forces says it's on track to meet this year's recruitment goal

More Canadians have expressed an interest in joining the military since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20 — but the Canadian Armed Forces isn't attributing that spike to Trump and his talk of annexing Canada.

Canadian Armed Forces says it's on track to meet this year's recruitment goal

Second case of measles confirmed in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, linked to Thailand flight

Health authorities in British Columbia have confirmed a second case of measles in the Lower Mainland, this time in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. Vancouver Coastal Health says in a release that the infected person travelled to Southeast Asia in the same party as a Fraser Health region resident who tested positive earlier this month.

Second case of measles confirmed in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, linked to Thailand flight

B.C. tree fruit growers get new $10M fund from the province

British Columbia has launched a new $10 million fund to help tree fruit farmers facing proposed U.S. tariffs on the heels of years of devastatingly low crop yields. A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture says the money will be handed out as one-time payments to farmers and can be used to help with needs like tools, training, capital for farm improvement, farm debt repayment and farm wages.