Gov. Walz continues discussions with Ontario Premier Doug Ford over electricity shut-off threat [Video]

ST PAUL, Minn. (KARE11) — Gov. Tim Walz spoke with Ontario Premier Doug Ford again on Wednesday as the two leaders work through the impact of tariffs on their respective economies.

In response to President Trump’s latest round of tariffs this week on Canada, Premier Ford — a political conservative who once supported Trump’s policies but was re-elected last week on a campaign against Trump’s actions — vowed to retaliate with a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, New York and Minnesota.

In a letter to U.S. lawmakers, provided to KARE 11 by Ford’s office, the premier wrote, “I won’t hesitate to increase this surcharge or, if necessary, shut the electricity off completely.”

“I will do everything, including cut off their energy, with a smile on my face,” Ford said at a news conference earlier this week.

According to Gov. Walz’s office, the threatened actions on electrical imports from Ontario could be “particularly acute …