DON’T LOOK FOR FORD ON 400 IN CHINESE EV EN ROUTE TO MUSKOKA COTTAGE THIS SUMMER

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com OPINION

When Doug Ford rolled in to Deerhurst Resort this summer for Mark Carney talks, his convoy of premier vehicles was led by a GM SUV.

Followed by a half-dozen other gleaming back gas guzzlers — most driven up from a Toronto fly-in.

Save for Ontario’s premier who breezed in to his Port Sydney cottage where he hosted them for a late night “fire-side” chat and sleep-over for the PM.

None of the secure Chevy Suburbans ferrying politicians into Huntsville’s suburbs could be misconstrued as Chinese EVs.

And don’t expect them any time soon — least not in Ford’s nation.

Not unless they’re canola or lobster EVs criss-crossing on the 401 or 407 delivering cross-border trade goods.

Premier Doug Ford, here in Huntsville this summer, is old-style auto jobs protectionist who is opposed to Chinese EVs coming to Canada. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

The premier’s Edsel-mindet remains a federal trade barrier impediment, which is why Dougie boy won’t be behind the wheel of his pickup next to you on the 400 in an EV this summer.

While laudable, Ford’s auto protectionism is short-sighted in the long-term.

If indeed some 50,000+ electric rickshaw enables economically-challenged drivers to take charge of their transportation by hitting the road to ‘Discover Ontario,’ then so be it.

Charge!

In reality, the populist premier should realize it’s the buyers not the sellers who will determine whether Chinese EVs evolve farther or devolve the Big 3 American powers that Canada shares equally successful with the big oil companies of America and Alberta.

If Canadians believe in climate change, let the marketplace decide? Or let them languish or rust on the sales lot.

That’s democracy in Canada — if not China and America.

The fact that world EV-leading China has a surplus of EVs and car plants is evidence that it’s unlikely they will set up shop in Ontario — or elsewhere in Canada.

Lest they buy up shuttered car factories now on the block with works and jobs destined possibly south of us if Trump has his deluded way.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, here in Huntsville, was in China last week with Mark Carney winning canola trade, which irked Ford who said he wasn’t even invited to pitch for Ontario car production.

It’s all odd as Trump has failed to catch wind of the fact that China is a global leader in solar panels and windmills.

That’s because North America faces economic and environmental headwinds while the tail winds are behind BYDs.

Ford’s government rolled back climate policies, notably scrapping the cap-and-trade system in 2018 and more recently in late 2025, attempting to remove the legal requirement for a provincial climate plan and emissions targets, shifting focus to “outcomes not targets,” which critics say weakens accountability, leading to more emissions and undermining climate efforts despite the global auto manufacturer Ford Motor Company’s own investments in EVs.

The only one on the road again this year will be environmentalist Willie Nelson.

Another good ol’ boy Dougie should hitch a ride with north next time the “outlaw country cowboy” heads up to Parry Sound for another great gig at the Bobby Orr Community Centre.

 

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