Ontario Premier Doug Ford says that if the federal government is forced to open up Canadaâs protected dairy sector to get a new trade deal with the U.S., he will make sure that the industry is âtaken care of.â
âWeâll sit down with the prime minister and with (Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia) Freeland and make sure that the farmers, the dairy industry is taken care of,â Ford told CTVâs Richard Madan during an interview in Washington, D.C.
âWeâre going to make sure, one way or another, weâre taking care of the farmers in Ontario,â Ford added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ford was briefed by Minister Freeland after she had a late-night round of negotiations on a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement, which U.S. President Donald Trump opposes.
Premier Ford, a Progressive Conservative, said that heâs putting aside partisanship in the interest of Canada and that the federal government is doing the same.
âTheyâre working hard for the people of Ontario, as they are for the people of Quebec and out east and out west,â he said. âItâs a tough job and Iâm behind them. I support them.â
âI understand maybe the president may have issues with China,â Ford added. âThere shouldnât be any issues with Canada. And weâll get through this, Iâm pretty confident.â
Lunch at Trump International Hotel
After meeting with Freeland, Ford lunched at the Trump International Hotel with U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaghton.
Ford said it was Craft who chose to patronize the presidentâs hotel, and that it would have been rude to complain about the sometimes controversial venue.
âWhen someone is gracious enough to invite you to lunch (as) Ambassador Craft did ... you donât question where you go,â he said.
âIt doesnât matter if itâs a Trump hotel,â he added. âShe could have asked me to go to McDonaldâs, I would have showed up at McDonaldâs.â
In what may outrage Canadian liberals, Ontarioâs Conservative Premier, Doug Ford, lunched today ... at the Trump Hotel
â Richard Madan (@RichardMadan)
With a report from CTVâs Richard Madan in Washington, D.C.