Ford Urges Carney to Accelerate Resource Projects and Eliminate Internal Trade Barriers
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to accelerate resource projects in Ontario and eliminate trade barriers between provinces.
Ford made these remarks while congratulating Carney on his success in the federal election held on April 28.
He called on Carney to honor his commitment to “accelerate approvals for critical mineral and other resource development projects,” particularly highlighting those in Ontario’s Ring of Fire.
The Ring of Fire is a mineral-rich area located about 500 kilometers northeast of Thunder Bay, covering approximately 5,000 square kilometers and containing valuable minerals like chromite, nickel, copper, gold, and zinc.
Additionally, Ford expressed his hope for Carney’s support in developing Ontario’s first small modular reactor.
Canada-wide Trade
Ford expressed his expectation that Carney would adhere to his pledge to eliminate federal internal trade barriers by Canada Day.
“Ontario is also ready to partner with the federal government and other provinces and territories to dismantle internal trade barriers and encourage economic integration throughout Canada,” Ford stated.
He anticipates the prime minister’s backing for “new nation-building infrastructure,” which includes pipelines, railways, and seaports to facilitate Canadian goods reaching new markets and decreasing dependency on the United States.
Enhancing trade with other provinces was a central theme in Ford’s throne speech on April 15, following his provincial election victory in February for a third consecutive term.
“Goods produced and services rendered in other provinces and territories will receive equivalent treatment in Ontario, provided there is reciprocation from those provinces and territories,” stated the throne speech.
The premier also included requests for bail reform and national defense in his appeal to Ottawa.
“I urge Prime Minister Carney to fulfill our national defense commitments by employing Canadian-made equipment wherever feasible, to back our workers and meet our commitments to our allies,” Ford articulated, underlining Canada’s necessity to meet NATO’s GDP spending target of 2 percent.