Premier Ford says he\u2019s sure Trump \u2018wasn\u2019t too happy\u2019 about the province\u2019s ad targeting Americans with an anti-tariff message from former president Reagan. <\/p>\n
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says a pricey ad targeting Americans with anti-tariff messaging has caught the attention of Donald Trump. <\/p>\n
\u201cI heard that the president heard our ad. I\u2019m sure he wasn\u2019t too happy,\u201d Ford told reporters at Queen\u2019s Park Tuesday. <\/p>\n
The ad features a clip of former president Ronald Reagan \u2014 a beloved Republican icon\u2014 slamming tariffs on foreign goods and saying they lead to trade wars and job losses. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s real, because it was coming from the best president the country\u2019s ever seen, Ronald Reagan,\u201d Ford said. \u201cSo it is very effective. It\u2019s probably one of the best ads I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ad, which Ford previously said cost $75 million<\/a>, has been running on most major U.S. networks. <\/p>\n Ford has said the aim is to \u201cblast\u201d the message to Americans, particularly Republican districts where Trump draws his support. <\/p>\n The premier also took question on the auto sector the same day General Motors announced it would end production of its BrightDrop electric delivery van at its Ingersoll<\/a>, Ont. plant, just a week after Stellantis<\/a> announced it would move Jeep Compass production originally slated for its Brampton plant to Illinois. <\/p>\n Asked if it was time to end government incentives for auto companies in light of the moves, Ford said he disagreed. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so, because we\u2019re going to hold them accountable,\u201d he said. \u201cBut you know, the grants and the loans and the deals that we\u2019ve made really created a tremendous amount of jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n MPPs returned to the legislature this week after a nearly five-month break and the government indicated its plans to counter U.S. tariffs will continue to top its agenda. <\/p>\n However the Ford government has faced criticism over job losses in the auto industry, as wells as for decisions about how money was doled out from the Skills Development Fund<\/a> \u2014 a $2.5 billion fund meant to train workers for in-demand industries in the face of tariffs. <\/p>\n The auditor general has said the process was not fair, accountable or transparent. <\/p>\n