Why Doug Ford’s political rivals face steep challenges going up against ‘Captain Canada’ [Video]

As Harrison Ford, Drew Barrymore and other celebrities hawked trucks, cruises, beer and soda to millions of Americans during Sunday night’s Super Bowl game, the Ontario government made its own pitch.

One of the pricey Super Bowl commercials — with a 30-second spot going for $8 million — featured an ad sponsored by the Ontario government highlighting the positive trading relationship the province has with its southern neighbour.

It was a not-so-subtle rebuttal to the tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump was set to impose on all imported steel and aluminum, including from Canada, the following evening. And it came from the Progressive Conservative government of Doug Ford, who has been given the moniker “Captain Canada” by some journalists and pundits — and become an unofficial advocate for the entire country.

“I think to an extent he has,” said Lori Turnbull, a political science professor at Dalhousie University in …