PC Leader Ford to honour Ontario’s EV commitment, Crombie and Stiles less definitive [Video]

Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford said Thursday he will honour Ontario’s commitment to the burgeoning electric vehicle sector if re-elected, while his main political rivals were less definitive.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said his country does not want or need Canadian cars despite signing a free trade deal with Canada and Mexico in his first term. He has threatened 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canadian imports unless border security is improved.

Trump has also made clear he’s going after Ontario’s automotive industry, hoping to increase vehicle production at home.

Ford’s government agreed to an auto pact with the federal government in 2023 to pay one third of production incentives in deals with Volkswagen, as well as Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, for their EV battery plants.

The two governments ponied up the money in order to compete with former U.S. president Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which included …