Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Friday that the province will temporarily halt airing television advertisements featuring former President Ronald Reagan, which criticize tariffs. This decision comes just in time for the upcoming World Series games this weekend, allowing for the resumption of U.S.-Canada trade talks.
Ford's announcement followed a recent move by President Donald Trump, who terminated trade negotiations with Canada due to the controversial ad. This advertisement has been airing in various U.S. markets and has sparked significant dialogue regarding trade relations.
In making this decision, Ford stated that he consulted with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The pause on the advertisement will take effect on Monday. Trump had previously referenced claims from The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which argued that the ad misrepresents Reagan's radio address from April 25, 1987, and was edited without the foundation's consent.
Ford explained the intention behind the commercial, saying, "Our goal was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses." He emphasized that the ad has successfully reached high-level U.S. audiences, achieving its primary objective.
In a strategic move, Ford directed his team to continue promoting their message in front of American audiences over the weekend, particularly during the first two World Series games. The Toronto Blue Jays, Ford's hometown team, will face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers for Game 1 on Friday night, with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday night in Toronto.
As a self-proclaimed admirer of Ronald Reagan, Ford first shared the advertisement on the social media platform X on October 16. This was shortly after he announced that Ontario's government would allocate $75 million to run this ad campaign in the United States.
Ford reiterated his commitment to spreading the message across Republican districts throughout the country. The ad features Reagan's voice delivering a poignant critique of tariffs: "When someone says, 'Let's impose tariffs on foreign imports,' it looks like they're doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes for a short while, it works, but only for a short time. However, over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer."
This developing story highlights the complex dynamics of international trade relations and the impact of political messaging on negotiations. Stay tuned for further updates as the situation unfolds.
