Free Republic

Years ago, Russia's leader, Vladimir Putin, was roundly condemned for shutting off energy exports to Ukraine and much of Europe in the dead of winter over payment disputes. I recall reading that someone in Serbia, which got its energy from pipelines from Ukraine, froze to death. Putin was unmoved. Then, after full blown war was declared in 2014, Putin went for electricity shutoffs, in 2015, and in the past year, through cyberattacks on the country's grid. It was terrible for Ukraine, which had to scramble for alternative suppliers as well as turn to its nuclear reactors to get what it...

TORONTO (AP) — The premier of Canada’s most populous province said Tuesday he was suspending the 25% surcharge that Ontario imposed earlier this week on electricity exports to the United States after speaking with the U.S. Commerce Secretary and agreeing to meet with him in Washington. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have agreed to meet on Thursday to “discuss a renewed” United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline. “They call you and they hand over an olive branch, the worst thing I could do as premier of...

Ontario Premier Doug Ford agreed to suspend a surcharge on electricity exports to US states a few hours after Trump threatened retaliation against Canada. On Monday evening Doug Ford threatened to cut off electricity to US states in response to Trump’s tariffs on Canada. “If we go into a recession, it will be called the Trump recession,” Doug Ford said in an interview with CNBC’s “Money Movers.” Doug Ford said cutting off electricity to the US is a tool in his toolkit. “That’s the last thing I want to do,” Doug Ford said. “I want to send more electricity down...

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada, a retaliation that prompted the provincial government of Ontario to back down on its planned surcharges on electricity sold to the United States. Tuesday’s escalation and retreat in the ongoing trade war between the United States and Canada only compounded the rising sense of uncertainty in terms of how Trump’s tariff hikes will play out. His spate of tax increases on imports and plans for more have roiled the stock market and stirred up recession...

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he had agreed to suspend a 25% surcharge on electricity imports into the U.S. after conversing with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in the wake of President Donald Trump's threats to hike steel and aluminum tariffs on the nation by 50%. In a statement issued with Lutnick and posted on X, Ford said he and Lutnick would now be meeting Thursday alongside the United States Trade Representative to discuss a renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade act ahead of Trump's self-imposed April 2 "reciprocal tariff deadline." "In response, Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 per...

Canadian province Ontario's Premier Doug Ford threatens: "If the US escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is imposing a 25% surcharge on electricity the province supplies to three U.S. states. Ford announced the higher costs to be paid by Americans in Michigan, Minnesota, and New York which buy Canadian power. Ontario might even turn it off. Ford said average electricity customers in those states can expect their utility bills to go up an average of $100 per month ($69 US) until the trade war with the U.S. comes to an end. Ford promised in a series of media appearances and a press release he wouldn't hesitate to increase the surcharge or get...

Ontario’s premier, the leader of Canada’s most populous province, is now charging 25% more for electricity shipped to 1.5 million American homes and businesses in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff plan. Ontario's premier, the leader of Canada’s most populous province, announced that effective Monday it is charging 25% more for electricity to 1.5 million American homes and businesses in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war. Ontario provides electricity to Minnesota, New York and Michigan. I will not hesitate to increase this charge. If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off...

Justin Trudeau was brought to tears as he spoke of the ongoing feud with President Trump and the US-imposed tariffs that have rattled Canada in his final days as prime minister. Trudeau, 53, appeared at a press conference on Thursday in Ottawa, where he discussed childhood health care, but became visibly emotional while vowing that he’s always “Canadians first.” “On a personal level, I made sure that every single day in this office, I put Canadians first, and I have people’s backs, and that’s why I’m here to tell you all that we got you,” the outgoing PM said as...

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said three states would face tariffs on electricity after a week of President Trump’s swipes at Canada with fluctuating trade policies. “I love Americans. It’s been 20 years of my life. But in saying that, no, we’re going to put a 25 percent tariff on electricity coming from Ontario to Michigan, New York and Minnesota,” Ford said during a Thursday appearance on Fox Business Network’s “The Claman Countdown.” The leader said new tariffs are scheduled to be implemented Monday in an effort to push back on Trump’s international economic measures. “And isn’t this a shame? It’s...

Air raid alerts across Ukraine... FBI Director Kash Patel says two active-duty US Army soldiers and one former soldier are under arrest... Space X's Starship spacecraft exploding after launch... In Australia a 17-year-old with a shotgun tackled by airline passengers as he got on board... 26 of 27 European leaders have agreed on more assistance for Ukraine... US officials say that Israel deliberately leaked information about direct talks between the United States and Hamas... Ontario Premier Doug Ford says electricity exported to three US states will carry a 25 percent... Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that US and Ukrainian negotiating...

Ontario will charge 25 per cent more for electricity shipped to 1.5 million Americans starting Monday in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, Premier Doug Ford said Thursday. The province provides electricity to Minnesota, New York and Michigan. Earlier this week, Ford warned the governors of those states about the coming changes. "You touch the stove once, you get burned, you don't touch that stove again," Ford said. "We're going to make sure that we follow through with what we said we were going to do." Ford said he felt bad about laying the surcharge. "I feel terrible for...

The leader of Canada's biggest economy is ripping up a deal with 'First Buddy' Elon Musk as the country continues to try and fight back against Donald Trump's tariffs. Doug Ford is the Premier of Ontario, home to both Canada's capital of Ottawa and largest city in Toronto. He has been one of the most fearsome fighters against Trump's tariff war with Canada which officially went into effect after midnight on Tuesday. Ford - who also threatened to cut off energy to the United States - launched into an attack on Musk, canceling the company's $100million CAN ($68million US) contract...

Doug Ford is throwing a tantrum, and he wants the whole continent to feel it. The Ontario Premier, in response to Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, is now vowing to cut off nickel shipments to the U.S., a move he claims will “shut down manufacturing” south of the border. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s also hinting at flipping the switch on electricity exports. Big threats, but let’s break down what’s really going on here. Nickel is no small thing—Ontario supplies about 50% of what the U.S. needs for its industries. It’s a core component in stainless...

The premier of Canada’s most populous province threatened to retaliate and cut off energy to the US “with a smile on my face” — as President Trump’s new 25% tariffs on imports took effect Tuesday. “If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything — including cut off their energy with a smile on my face,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford vowed Monday, the Toronto Sun reported. “They rely on our energy, they need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard, we’re going to come back twice as hard.” The US is a major...

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Tuesday that his government will accelerate its timetable for lifting coronavirus restrictions, reopening businesses, and terminating its vaccine passport system. “The world’s done with it, so let’s just move forward,” he said of the pandemic.

Ontario plans to lift its vaccine-certificate system March 1, Premier Doug Ford announced Monday, while allowing the removal of current capacity limits for restaurants by Thursday. Masking rules are to remain in place. Businesses will be free to continue using the province’s proof-of-vaccination system if they choose. “Given how well Ontario has done in the Omicron wave, we are able to fast track our reopening plan,” Mr. Ford said in a statement released ahead of a news conference on Monday. “This is great news and a sign of just how far we’ve come together in our fight against the virus....

Comrades, Ontario Premier Doug Ford held a press conference this afternoon to announce he has declared a ‘state of emergency‘ and intends to issue orders against dissident truckers authorizing the police to place them under arrest, initiate fines up to $100k each individual, and revoke the personal and commercial licenses of anyone who doesn’t comply. The rebellion must be quashed, before the citizens start to think they have power. As a typical DeceptiCon, Premier Ford begins his justification with the feels, and then gets to down to the business of calling the Freedom Protest in Ottawa an illegal occupation. Ford...

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has declared a state of emergency in an effort to put an end to the “siege” in Ottawa and Windsor as the truck convoy protests continue to disrupt traffic and prevent the transport of goods across the Canadian border. Ford made the announcement Friday at Queen’s Park, saying he will convene cabinet and “use legal authorities to urgently enact orders” that will protect international border crossings, as well as the 400-series highways, airports, bridges, ports and railways in the province. Fines for non-compliances will be severe, the premier said, with a maximum penalty of $100,000 and...

A judge agreed Tuesday to allow the church to reopen so long as a COVID safety plan is posted inside the building.WATERLOO, Ontario, July 29, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) — A Christian church in Canada, whose doors were locked by health officials for breaking COVID rules, is facing $85,000 in new fines, but a judge agreed Tuesday to allow them to open so long as they post a COVID safety “plan” inside their building. “The other elders owe $7,500 each, and the church itself owes $35,000. The judge will review the Ministry of the Attorney General’s legal costs and then order us...