UMVA has learned that Ontario Premier Doug Ford's meeting with American business leaders was abruptly cancelled on Monday night, a significant blow to his high-profile trip to Washington.
The planned reception, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its Board Chair, Ross Perot Jr., was one of the few meetings Ford's office had publicly disclosed ahead of his trip. However, the official reason given for the cancellation was a scheduling conflict, leaving many to wonder about the true cause.
Sources close to the matter suggest that the real reason behind the cancellation was the Chamber's desire not to anger President Donald Trump, with whom Ford has had a strained relationship. It's unclear whether the White House applied direct pressure on the Chamber or if they simply chose to distance themselves from Ford.
A seasoned political operative described the cancellation as more than just a scheduling issue, saying, "No … that's not the sort of thing you accidentally double-book and notice at the last minute."
Despite the setback, Ford did manage to meet with Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota on Tuesday morning. Cramer is an ally of President Trump and has strong ties to Canada, making him a key figure for Ford to connect with.
Later in the afternoon, Ford was scheduled to meet with members of the House of Representatives, mainly from Michigan and New York. However, his office remains tight-lipped about the exact details of these meetings.
Ford's trip to Washington was intended to make a splash, but it's been overshadowed by controversy. Questions have been raised about the size of his entourage and the several SUVs with Ontario plates chauffeuring him and his team around D.C.
One observer noted that Ford's entourage was larger than that of a prominent diplomat, sparking concerns about the optics of his visit. Ford, however, dismissed the idea that his trip hasn't lived up to expectations, insisting that the cancelled reception was simply a scheduling issue.
Ford also addressed the issue of Ontario's booze ban, which has been a point of contention with the U.S. He ruled out lifting the ban, even if the Americans threaten extra tariffs, saying, "No, no, I just want to get this deal done, and then we'll put that booze back on the shelves."
During his visit, Ford's government released a 32-page blueprint for building a stronger economy across North America, titled Building Fortress North America. The document outlines a plan to create more jobs, lower costs, and strengthen economic and continental security.
The plan has raised questions about why it is coming from the Province of Ontario rather than the federal government. This kind of document and message should have been coming out of Ottawa for the last 18 months, sparking concerns about the state of the Canada-U.S. relationship.
The cancellation of Ford's meeting and the controversy surrounding his trip have led to concerns that Canada is no longer a welcome guest at the table. As one observer noted, "We aren't wanted at the party anymore and even when we get an invite, the party gets cancelled."
