How the Mouthy Have Fallen

How it started:

Doug Ford, premier of Ontario, Canada's most populous province, says Canada is willing to go much further in the escalating trade war with the US than President Donald Trump realizes.

"We can put massive pain on the US," Ford told reporters during a searing press conference on Monday. "President Trump underestimates us, and that's the biggest mistake: underestimating your opponent."

If the trade war continues to ramp up, Ford said "everything's on the table," including electricity, critical minerals, and fuel. He added that Canadian premiers, who lead Canada's 10 provinces, needed to work together to put pressure on the US.

 

How it's going:

A portion of Ontario’s electricity supply this winter may come from south of the border just months after Premier Doug Ford threatened export cutoffs and surcharges amid an ongoing trade dispute with the United States.

The province’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) announced it has finalized a six-month agreement with U.S.-based Alpha Generation to supply 600 megawatts of electricity capacity starting Nov. 1 as a way to maintain grid reliability during upcoming “facility maintenance.”

The IESO said the “short-term” deal with the American power company will allow Ontario to import electricity from New York state as needed to offset temporary reductions in generation due to scheduled maintenance. Maintenance began at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station in September as part of a multi-year refurbishment plan.

“In response to facility maintenance recently requested to start this upcoming winter period through 2027 and 2028, the IESO is taking steps to secure additional short-term capacity to allow for required infrastructure maintenance and ensure system reliability,” said a press release from the IESO, which operates independently from the Ontario government to oversee the province’s electrical infrastructure.

The contract is meant to serve as a protective measure against supply shortages and potential blackouts when temperatures plummet, drawing electricity from Alpha Generation—an operator of five oil- and gas-powered facilities throughout New York state.

A spokesperson from Energy Minister Stephen Lecce’s office said that all energy supply and import decisions are made without the province’s input and referred the Epoch Times to the IESO for comment on the contract.