Ontario Premier Doug Ford has once again promised to cancel the province’s $100 million contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink, citing the recent imposition of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods as the primary driver behind the decision.
The contract, signed in November last year to provide internet services to remote areas of Ontario, now faces renewed scrutiny as the long-threatened Trump tariffs have officially gone into effect. These tariffs impose a 25 percent duty on most Canadian goods and a 10 percent duty on energy exports. Ford, a former supporter of President Trump, warned that if the tariffs persist, Ontario might be forced to impose its own 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to the United States—a measure that could affect over 1.5 million U.S. residents in Michigan, New York, and Minnesota. “We need to be ready to dig in for a long fight,” Ford said, according to the Toronto Sun.
In addition to the potential cancellation of the Starlink deal, Ford has floated other measures, including surcharges on mineral exports and even the possibility of cutting off electricity to U.S. customers if negotiations fail. The situation underscores the escalating tensions in North American trade relations, with Canadian officials also taking steps on other fronts. Ontario’s primary liquor wholesaler, the LCBO, has confirmed plans to stop purchasing U.S.-made alcohol, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada will introduce retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.
Trudeau criticized the U.S. action during a news conference, stating, “Today the US launched a trade war against Canada, their closest ally and their closest friend. At the same time, they're talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vladimir Putin—a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense.” Trudeau also suggested that Trump’s tariff measures might be aimed at weakening the Canadian economy, but asserted that “Canada will never be the 51st state.”
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Federal Aviation Administration has announced a partnership with SpaceX to install Starlink terminals at various airports and is reportedly seeking funding for additional Starlink projects—a move that comes as Ontario debates its contract cancellation.
Ontario’s Ministry of Infrastructure has been contacted for further details regarding the cancellation of the Starlink deal, and additional updates are expected as the situation evolves.
Read next
10:56
US
U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have stated that the United States will abandon efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine unless significant progress is made in the coming days.
22:00
US expansion
In response to President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs, a number of global companies are eyeing expansion into the United States to minimize the economic fallout from the trade measures.
21:30
US-Iran nuclear talks
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov extended Moscow’s support for the ongoing indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, offering to mediate or assist in any way that would be beneficial to Tehran and acceptable to Washington.
20:30
Japan
Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato strongly denied accusations that Japan manipulates its currency to weaken the yen, ahead of a highly anticipated meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent next week. Kato addressed the issue in the Japanese parliament on Friday, reaffirming that Jap
22:30
US
The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims decreased by 9,000 last week, falling to 215,000, according to data from the US Labor Department released on Thursday.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment