We’re committed to speaking the truth,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated during a lunchtime address in Toronto. Published on October 14, 2025, this article highlights Ontario’s plan to initiate a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign aimed at countering U.S. tariffs, specifically targeting Republican-held districts and incorporating quotes from the late President Ronald Reagan.
The television advertisement primarily features excerpts from a 1987 speech by Reagan, where he advocated for free trade and criticized tariffs as a policy that increases prices and negatively impacts American workers.
During his speech in Toronto, Premier Ford showcased the ad, announcing, “We’re launching a $75 million campaign, and we’ll be delivering that message in every Republican district.” This amount is roughly equivalent to $53 million USD. “We’re simply going to present the facts. This ad isn’t aggressive; it’s purely factual.”
Ontario, which is central to Canada’s steel and automotive industries, has faced significant challenges due to the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on these sectors. The province’s unemployment rate climbed to 7.9% in September, up from approximately 7% a year earlier, with even higher rates in cities like Windsor and Oshawa, where auto manufacturing is a major source of employment.