Doug Ford says U.S. governors agree Trump’s comments on Canada were ‘insulting’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in an interview with CNN on Monday morning that his American counterparts have expressed concern about the decline in Canadian tourism and that President Donald Trump's comments about making Canada the 51st state of the United States were offensive to Canadians.

"When we talk to governors, a lot of them say it's offensive — an insult to your closest friend and ally," Ford said in the interview.

"We love America. I love America. Canadians love the American people. There's only one person who caused this problem, and that's President Trump. I hope he takes a different path and starts to mend the relationship. Because right now, as the governors here have said, there's a significant decline in Canadian tourism."

Ford's comments come as he and several other Canadian premiers are meeting with a number of U.S. governors in Boston to discuss trade and tariffs.

Ford said some governors have expressed particular concern about the sharp decline in Canadian tourism in the wake of the trade war between the two countries, in which the United States has imposed tariffs on Canadian goods and has sometimes increased or decreased them without notice.

Trump has repeatedly said that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States and said he would use economic pressure to achieve this goal. In contrast, Canadian political leaders across the spectrum have vehemently rejected the idea as an attack on Canadian sovereignty.

However, Ford said that there are warm and cordial relations between provincial governors and premiers, regardless of the White House's stance.

“There’s a very warm and friendly atmosphere in the meetings,” he said. “Everyone is in the room together, and we just want to get things back on track and move forward.”

The meeting will be attended by Maine Governor Janet Mills, Vermont Governor Phil Scott, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKay, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Massachusetts Governor Maura Haley, and New York Governor Kathy Hockley.

In addition to Ford, Canada will also be represented by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier John Hogan, Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lentz, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, and Quebec Economy Minister Christine Ferchet.

The Boston meeting will coincide with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Alberta.

Ford expressed confidence in Carney’s performance in the meeting, saying he must send a strong and clear message about the harms of the US tariffs to both countries.

“I have full confidence in Prime Minister Carney. He will certainly be gracious as a host, but he must also be firm,” he added.

“It makes no sense to attack one of your strongest friends and allies,” Ford reiterated.

“We need to send a message to the world that there is stability in these two countries now and that everyone can invest in the United States and Canada,” he said.

In another part of the interview, Ford was asked about his response to the trade war, and specifically Bill 5, the so-called “special economic zones” for resource extraction, and the concerns of some indigenous groups (First Nations) in this regard.

He responded:

“A small number (of First Nations) have made noise, but you will see the vast majority of them coming fully on board soon, and we will work with them in a collaborative and compassionate manner.”

The bill has been criticized by some indigenous groups for giving provincial governments the authority to create special economic zones and ignoring environmental regulations and other regulations in areas of special economic interest.

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