Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, is one of Canada’s most populous provinces. They announced X that the province’s government would be “ripping up” its $68 million (CAD 100 million) agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service. The latest news came soon after President Donald Trump announced with 25% tariff on nearly all Canadian imported goods. That is causing Canada to impose a 25% tariff on all US goods.
However, Ford reportedly decided to put a pin in the plan later on Monday after President Trump delayed imposing tariffs on all Canadian imports for at least 30 days. The stay came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada reported several benefits that included the plans to station 10,000 “frontline personnel” at the 5,500-mile Canada-U.S. border.
Musk, is now in charge of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. A group within the Trump administration charged with carrying out extensive deregulation and drastic cost-cutting to government expenditure. It has grown to be a close friend of President Trump.
In order to supply satellite internet, Musk’s Starlink has been attempting to negotiate agreements with regional and federal governments. In November 2024, the Ontario government inked a contract with Starlink. That is expected to deliver broadband internet to the province’s most rural areas.
Ford also stated in a press conference earlier Monday that other U.S. companies will not be allowed to bid on future provincial contracts in Ontario until the U.S. government lifts the tariffs before Canada was able to postpone the imposition of those U.S. duties.
Ford told Musk was
“part of the Trump team that wants to destroy families, incomes, destroy businesses.”
Ford said
“[Musk] wants to take food off the table of people, hard-working people, and I’m not going to tolerate it,”.
“U.S.-based businesses will now lose out on tens of billions of dollars in new revenues. They only have President Trump to blame.”
Starlink did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
