Ontario’s premier has threatened to cut off energy supplies to the U.S. in response to President Trump’s tariffs, stating he would do so “with a smile on my face” and that “they need to feel the pain.” Ontario is Canada’s most populous province.

Premier Doug Ford reiterated his threat at a mining convention on Monday.

“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything – including with a smile on my face,” the Toronto Sun quoted him as saying Monday.

He added, “They rely on our energy, they need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard, we’re going to come back twice as hard.”

The article notes that the U.S. is a major importer of Canadian electricity, with New York, Michigan, and Minnesota being the largest customers of Ontario’s domestically produced power.

According to the Canada Energy Regulator, Canadian electricity exports to the U.S. reached a record $5.8 billion in revenue in 2022.

Ford stated that he would match U.S. tariffs with equivalent Canadian tariffs.

“That’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Ford affirmed.

He continued, “The provinces have a big say in it, but it’s the federal government that’s leading the charge, and we’re going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder no matter who’s in the federal government.”

Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods on Tuesday in response to the Trump administration’s tariffs.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and various provincial leaders have also suggested further retaliatory measures.

“A fight with Canada will have no winners,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

He added, “We will never be the 51st state, but he (Trump) can do damage to the Canadian economy, and he’s started this morning, but he is rapidly going to find out, as American families are going to find out, that that’s going to hurt people on both sides of the border.”

Digital has contacted the White House for comment.