As Canada and the United States each continue to ramp up tariffs on goods crossing the border, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has talked a big game by threatening to tax or restrict fuel exports to the United States. But Ford knows that his province exports virtually none of these fuels. Alberta does, and Premier Danielle Smith has vehemently opposed any fuel export limits. Prime Minister Mark Carney is similarly inclined.

US President Donald Trump knows Ford’s bluster is just that. “Remember, much of the electricity, oil, and gas that Canada gets is transported through the US,” the president clapped back at Ford on August 24. 

It is a rare moment when Trump has a valid point, and Ontario’s energy vulnerability is something that the premier helped create. The province imports virtually all its natural gas, and two thirds of that fuel comes from south of the border. Ford increased gas imports — especially from the US — by dumping massive taxpayer subsidies into expanding natural gas infrastructure to hard-wire Ontario homes and businesses on the fuel. He then tripled Ontario’s production of gas-fired electricity, even though it is proven to be more expensive than cleaner alternatives.

The premier has no trouble understanding the value of restricting imports of US liquor.........

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