December 18, 2025 — Dalena Reporters
Ontario Premier Doug Ford sparked both laughter and diplomatic caution on Thursday when he hailed his government’s controversial anti-tariff television advertisement as “the best ad that’s ever been run”, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney appeared visibly amused and somewhat bemused by the remark during a joint public appearance.
The exchange occurred as Ford and Carney announced a new agreement to expedite key infrastructure approvals in Ottawa. Despite alignment on infrastructure and broader Canada–U.S. trade interests, the two leaders differed notably in their tone over the splashy U.S. advertising campaign launched by Ontario earlier this year.
Ford’s $75 million campaign which featured excerpts of former U.S. President **Ronald Reagan warning about the perils of tariffs was designed to influence American public opinion amid ongoing tensions over U.S. trade barriers targeting Canadian steel, aluminum and other sectors.
The premier reiterated his confidence in the commercial’s impact, claiming it garnered billions of views and fulfilled its goal of raising awareness among U.S. audiences about the economic risks of tariffs. Ford defended the strategy even as he acknowledged that it had complicated Canada–U.S. trade negotiations, generating strong reactions in Washington.
As Ford spoke, Carney’s body language — including an eye-roll and nervous chuckle underscored the delicate balance Ottawa has tried to maintain between provincial advocacy and federal diplomacy. Carney and his team had previously signalled concerns that the advertisement risked derailing formal talks with U.S. counterparts, particularly with the Trump administration’s trade representatives.
“At times, diplomacy has been trumped by audacity,” one correspondent reported of the day’s remarks, capturing the dynamic between the provincial premier’s bold rhetoric and the prime minister’s more measured engagement with U.S. officials.
Carney, speaking after Ford’s comments, reaffirmed his optimism that constructive talks with the United States remain possible despite the tensions stirred by the advertisement. He stressed that federal negotiators continued to pursue agreements on tariff disputes and were ready to resume dialogue when Washington signalled readiness to return to the table.
The incident reflects ongoing friction in Canada’s approach to U.S. trade policy, with provincial leaders pushing strong advocacy measures even as federal officials seek to navigate sensitive diplomatic terrain in pursuit of long-term economic cooperation.