Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the province plans on moving ahead with a tax on electricity sent to several U.S. states starting early next week.

Ford said the 25 per cent tax will be announced on Monday, with it likely being enacted on Tuesday.

“We are moving forward with it. I feel terrible for the American people because it’s not the American people, and it’s not even the elected officials, it’s one person and that’s President (Donald) Trump.” Ford told 640Toronto radio host Ben Mulroney on Thursday.

“It’s totally unacceptable, but he’s coming after his closest friends, closest allies in the world and it’s going to absolutely devastate both economies.”

  • @wirebeads@lemmy.ca
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    5412 days ago

    I find it so odd the U.S. thought the nicest people on the planet were simply going to lie down and get steamrolled by a snake oil rapist felon into submission.

    As a Canadian, I’m now running low on sorries, and that’s scary.

  • Atelopus-zeteki
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    3012 days ago

    Alas, this is the correct path forward. FAFO, IF #47 can learn, the US might be saved by these sorts of actions, “Gentle discipline” from our long time friends and neighbors.

  • Cows Look Like Maps
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    1412 days ago

    Has there been any talk of Quebec/Newfoundland doing the same? The eastern seaboard of the USA depends on Canadian energy. Including New York city.

  • Lit
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    12 days ago

    Until US stop the flow of drugs and gun into Canada this tax should remain in place.

    Actually it should just remain in place whenever Trump and his gang members are president.

  • @Typotyper@sh.itjust.works
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    412 days ago

    Out of curiosity and I seriously doubt people will know, but how does the US pay for hydro. They don’t stop it at the border and they can’t return it. Rates have to be agreed upon prior to delivery.

    • @Eranziel@lemmy.world
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      612 days ago

      I’m quite sure the actual transaction is between private American utility companies and their counterparts across the border. There likely is a contract in place between the two companies which agrees on pricing, which would either spell out how rates are calculated, require a guaranteed warning period before rate increases, or disallow rate changes until the contract expires and is renewed.

      However, Ford isn’t talking about a rate change between the companies. Even though it’s not a physical good, it’s cross-border trade which means it happens at the pleasure of the governments on both sides. Ford is talking about applying a tax to the electricity, which I assume his government has the power to do. Contracts between private entities cannot stop the government from levying a tax if it chooses.