Speculation arose regarding the knowledge and approval of an Ontario government anti-tariff ad by the prime minister and his chief of staff, potentially triggering a reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump. The issue followed Mark Carney to Singapore on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister’s Office declined to provide any further comments on the controversial television ad that recently disrupted sectoral trade discussions with the United States.
A senior federal official, speaking anonymously, continued to attribute the ad campaign’s responsibility to the government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford, despite the prime minister’s assertion that Ottawa maintains control over negotiations.
“The decision to run this ad was made by the Ontario government, and the federal government played no role in its creation or dissemination,” stated the official.
In defense of his actions, Ford asserted on Monday that the prime minister and his senior advisors had reviewed the ad before its release.
“Both the prime minister and his chief of staff saw the ad before its public launch, and we proceeded based on their feedback,” Ford explained to journalists at Queen’s Park.
According to Ford, the TV spot successfully achieved its goal of raising awareness among Americans about the impact of tariffs.
“Mission accomplished,” Ford affirmed. “The ad sparked discussions in the U.S. that weren’t happening before.”
Hear some of the questions put to Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump cut off trade talks last week, citing an anti-tariff ad released by the Ontario government in the U.S.
During the ASEAN summit’s closure in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, Carney was asked whether Trump’s decision to halt trade talks was solely influenced by the ad, which references a speech by former U.S. president Ronald Reagan from decades ago. Carney advised taking Trump’s statements at face value regarding his reasons for the action.
The prime minister reiterated that the Canadian federal government holds the reins in U.S. relations.