Ontario Premier Doug Ford says that if the federal government is forced to open up Canada鈥檚 protected dairy sector to get a new trade deal with the U.S., he will make sure that the industry is 鈥渢aken care of.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檒l 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,鈥� Ford told CTV鈥檚 Richard Madan during an interview in Washington, D.C.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to make sure, one way or another, we鈥檙e taking care of the farmers in Ontario,鈥� 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 he鈥檚 putting aside partisanship in the interest of Canada and that the federal government is doing the same.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e working hard for the people of Ontario, as they are for the people of Quebec and out east and out west,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough job and I鈥檓 behind them. I support them.鈥�

鈥淚 understand maybe the president may have issues with China,鈥� Ford added. 鈥淭here shouldn鈥檛 be any issues with Canada. And we鈥檒l get through this, I鈥檓 pretty confident.鈥�

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 president鈥檚 hotel, and that it would have been rude to complain about the sometimes controversial venue.

鈥淲hen someone is gracious enough to invite you to lunch (as) Ambassador Craft did ... you don鈥檛 question where you go,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter if it鈥檚 a Trump hotel,鈥� he added. 鈥淪he could have asked me to go to McDonald鈥檚, I would have showed up at McDonald鈥檚.鈥�

With a report from CTV鈥檚 Richard Madan in Washington, D.C.