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‘Existential threats’: Ford's chief of staff calls for stronger mandate to combat U.S. tariffs

“As we enter a period of unparalleled economic risk and critical negotiations, our government will need a strong mandate from the people to stand up for Ontario with President Trump, Canada’s federal government, and other provinces to ensure we can effectively respond to, outlast and, ultimately, win this fight,” Sackville said.

Published Jan 21, 2025 at 7:50pm

Barbara Patrocinio
By
Barbara Patrocinio
‘Existential threats’: Ford's chief of staff calls for stronger mandate to combat U.S. tariffs

Ontario Premier Doug Ford arrives for a first ministers meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan.15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

After U.S. President Donald Trump declared his intention to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports, Premier Doug Ford’s chief of staff, Patrick Sackville, sent out an internal memo to the caucus, setting the tone for what would come next.

“Make no mistake: this is only the beginning of what will be a long, hard fight,” Sackville wrote.

The memo, first obtained by Global News, did more than warn about economic challenges; it signaled that Ford’s Progressive Conservative government was preparing to call an early election a full year before the end of its term.

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