Ontario rips up $100M Starlink contract ahead of U.S. tariffs
Ontario rips up $100M Starlink contract ahead of U.S. tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is announcing that the province will rip up its $100 million contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s incoming 25 per cent tariffs.
Ford’s office made the announcement Monday and said the government is also banning other American companies from provincial contracts going forward
🤭🤭🤭🤭
I still don't like Ford, but I do like that he was going to do this.
I don't like that he delayed when the tariffs were delayed.
Honestly, these guys need to piss or get off the pot. Either do what you're saying you'll do, or make a swift exit from the job. Honestly.
Honestly, these guys need to piss or get off the pot. Either do what you're saying you'll do, or make a swift exit from the job.
Seriously. There's no consideration for all the scrambling that businesses have to do, even when it's just a threat.
Even broken clocks show the correct time twice a day...
Can we still rip this up?
Shit, he backed down when Trump postponed the tariffs.
It at least shows how piss weak these people are when it comes to feeding their disgusting greed.
Finally some populism I can get behind.
This is the way. Canada should keep making these kinds of moves to hurt the oligarchs, not the country they claim to be part of.
Musk has proven his goal is to interfere with politics on a global level, not just here in the US.
Yes but also, as an American who isn't particularly well off (basking in the immense luxury of being middle class), my countryfolk need to learn what pissing off our allies gets us. My state voted for Trump, he was brazenly clear that he wanted to hurt our citizens and our allies to try to force people to do whatever he wants. We need to learn better
It is interesting to see that Canadian apathy has suddenly turned into a united stand for Canada.
I heard a 10 year old kid in the store yesterday, "Dad, can I get this? I checked , it is made in Canada"
It sucks it has come to this.
Doug Ford is a douche, but he is enough of a douche to not be politically correct in terms of relations with the USA.
I see Canadian apathy as a coping mechanism. We've been so fucked over in so many small ways over such a long timeframe that we can't possibly give a fuck about so much of the bullshit that's happening. We simply don't have the energy to even pretend to care.
We'll still show up to the booths and vote when asked (a lot of us will at last), but other than that, we're expecting and un-phased that things are getting worse constantly. Whether that bullshit is coming from our government or something from a neighbor or whatever, doesn't matter.
Our apathy should not be confused with either a willingness to take action when we feel strongly about something, nor an inability to take action.
I am Canadian, and every person I've met who can say the same has a lot of National pride. We're known for being kind, and we're proud of it. Push us the wrong way, and we'll burn down the white house. (iykyk)
We need more French blood. Government tries to pull a fast one, they take to protesting immediately
It is interesting to see that Canadian apathy has suddenly turned into a united stand for Canada.
American (and Canadian) politicians have fucked over Canada every step of the way for a long as I can remember but it was always done with the thinnest veneer of diplomacy to cover up the absolute disregard for an entire country's population. This is the first time that a politician has been dumb enough to fuck over not only the people of Canada but also it's oligarchs. Canada's ruling class has decided it's ok to revolt against our neighbour's bad behaviour and so it's being spun by the news and politicians as 'Canadian Patriotism.'
edit: I see this is a bit controversial. I'm not saying that it is bad that, right now, Canadians are unified in identifying the bad guy and saying "no, you've gone to far." I'm saying that we should have been saying this for years but our politicians, the rich people who direct them and the media companies that they own, have been actively stopping us up until now.
Hit them where it hurts. Their wallets!
Just be precise, watch out for the 'little guy'. It's not sane US citizens doing this. We're experiencing a coup over here, neighbor. And the sane ones are trying to figure out how to get back to being good neighbors, and stop the corporate coup. srsly.
Were experiencing a coup yes, but the American little guy has their head up their ass. Don't let us starve for sure, but if Trump triggers the most financially difficult time in the average American's life maybe our countryfolk will learn for once.
I don't want a tight and difficult few years. It was hard before and I'm terrified of my upcoming financial situation. But also our voting populace asked for this.
It's not sane US citizens doing this
At some point we need to hit their pocket too.
33% of American didn't even bother to show up and vote. They're complicit in this, and they deserve the pinch to wake the fuck up as to what their country is doing.
And if that's not enough, well.... the sane ones might need to get off their ass and start doing something about the rampant assholes running around shitting on everyone.
With all due respect, and I’m sorry to those who voted Kamala, this is our only option.
The only way Canada succeeds is when the American people are hurting enough that they push for change from the inside.
I’m very sorry to small honest US companies, but we don’t have the luxury of choice or leniency on this matter anymore.
Also this is the second time Trump has been elected. Whatever excuses people have, I can’t look at this as a one off or crazy event. I have to see this as the future of American diplomacy and how we can expect to be treated.
As a fellow American, I hate to say it, but them’s the breaks. Plenty of Russians suffer under sanctions for a war they had nothing to do with. Even though it’s not our fault as we weren’t Trump supporters, we’re in his stupid boat and will pay the price. It sucks.
Trump won a majority, and the GOP won the house and senate. It's not all US citizens, but if it's not a majority, it's close enough. Is it really a coup if it's what the majority wanted?
This is hardly a new thing for the US. The world has seen the US elect Bush Jr, who alienated the world with his desire to invade Iraq. Remember Freedom Fries? At the same time that was going on, Canada, which did support the US when it invaded Afghanistan, said that Iraq was a bridge too far, and refused to participate in that. The result was the GOP drumming up anti-Canada hate, people boycotting Canadian products, etc. Then in the years since Bush, the US has elected Trump not once but twice. This is who you guys are now.
I'm one of the sane Americans and honestly screw this whole, "think of the children" crap. America as a whole voted for Idiocracy by voting in not just Trump but all of these damn moron, spineless Republicans and yeah Americans, all of us, deserve all of this. That's how democracy works unfortunately.
Honestly, unless you're out there protesting like it's Ferguson every day, you're not doing anything to actively to push back on the insanity so yeah, you deserve it too, just like I do with just working to keep surviving this blossoming dictatorship.
I mean they voted for the cou. So yes it is Americans doing this. And I don't care if they didn't vote for this crowd they didn't show up so yes they voted for this.
Something something second ammendment.
We have all let this happen in one way or another, via complacency, but y'all benefit from being a fascist state and informal empire together. Y'all can suffer the costs of it together, too.
I'm sure Trump will do that. That's why he was elected right?
Let's see if one of greatest American businessmen of all time (/s) can protect his citizens from the trade war he started.
It's a start, but will he even feel a $100 million loss?
He might not. Maybe Starlink will.
It's not money. It's power.
Canada will be more efficient without the Musk.
The whole world would.
Ban X and Meta too.
And google & microsoft. Leading the way!
I know Ford makes bad decisions, but I am all for this decision. Punched right at the core of the problem.
It's nice in theory, but if there's already a contract, who much is it going to cost to get out of it? You can't just "rip it up" and then act like it never existed.
Also, Ford has already backtracked on this with the 30 day extension on the tariffs.
I peeked into conservative subs, and people are cheering “owning” Canada for not treating us fairly.
…WTF? Has this been going on for a while?
Other than family with some Canadian ties, the only real sentiment I’ve heard before the inauguration was is that Canadians are overly polite, even among conservative family. The fentanyl thing seems… what?
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/03/canada-respond-trump-tariff-trade-war
Keep in mind that a lot of "conservative" opinions are bought and paid for... They literally hire people to spread propaganda and stir shit up, around the world. For example, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-ballingall-conservative-leadership-canada-proud-1.6433088
The fentanyl thing seems… what?
Like a blatant fucking lie?
This whole bullshit trade war is based on Trump lying. About everything.
This is part of how we know it's a cult they've formed. Probably for many on both a personal and a societal level, they're getting isolated from friends and family who warn them, and will believe whatever lies they're told by the cult leader scamming them. It will probably take some hard economic realities in their day-to-day lives for the ones who are capable to break out of the spell they're under. And even then, there will likely be a cluster who double down repeatedly in the belief their "win" is just over the horizon, like the tragic BBBY investor cult.
Some conservative sub's are being heavily moderated and comments are mass deleted. Some I notice the top comments gave very few upvotes and only two standing comments that agree
I'd like to see how many American guns are used in Canadian crimes.
"When handguns involved in crimes were traced in 2021, they were overwhelmingly - 85% of the time - found to have come from the United States." There were 8,047 victims of violent crime where a firearm was present in 2021 alone.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/fighting-gun-crime-canada-has-an-american-problem-2022-07-27/
Most of them.
I've only seen this recently myself, when the orange shit stain started mentioning trade deficits.. but they seem to grasp that concept about as well as they do tariffs.
An argument I’ve seen is that the Canadian druglords are just that much better at getting drugs through the porous Canadian border without getting caught. Yeah I know it’s ridiculous but it’s so hard to fight this antilogic particularly with government data disappearing as we speak…
That doesn't make sense and isn't even how borders work. Most countries are not concerned with what leaves but what comes in, because their laws stop at the border. The states certainly doesn't care about all the guns leaving their country for Canada and Mexico.
When entering the US, it's the US border guards who are doing the checks. Perhaps they should improve their own border security.
Doug Ford is basically Julien getting out of jail and chasing Cyrus out of the trailer park.
And I’m all for it.
I will go out buy a case of Molson Canadian or Labatt's.
As an American I support this message.
Alright, next let's do American streaming services.
I only had disney+, prime, and netflix. Last week I was down to netflix. Considering doing that this week as well.
Obligatory https://madeinca.ca/ shout out.
As much as I dislike Ford, I'm happy to see him doing his job properly for a change.
(Vote Green.)
This, in no way, makes up for Bill 212. But I'm glad to see that he's at least united with the rest of the country on one goddamn thing.
Isnt a contract something that you get in trouble for ripping up and not paying? Like that's the definition of a contract
Depends on the contract and the clauses. We dont know what it says or how its worded.
Why wasn't that published? Seems like the most important aspect of this story
If the penalty is less than the increased tarrifs then they're still saving money
Tarifs on what? This is about goods being purchased from a US company
What's Elon going to do? March up there to Ontario and throw a tantrum on the steps of the capitol building? He can take them to court in Canada, but that would take years.
The US gov’t can just punish them by tariffing them more! Problem solved! /s
Musk files lawsuit in...
I hope he does. We handle lawsuits differently in Canada and he doesn't own our judges or supreme court. I look forward to reading the judges decision lambasting him and his lawyers.
Canada should make its own version of Netflix, Amazon and Uber and watch American companies cry while they try to sue in Canadian courts and flounder.
Every country should do this. There's no reason for a cut to go to Silicon Valley when you buy Canadian food from a Canadian restaurant delivered by a Canadian driver. Fuck em.
Netflix should not be making ad revenue when people around the world binge watch Kim's Convenience (a Canadian production).
It's about time we cut the US media mafia out. They need to see that the walled garden they've created around their profits is not impenetrable.
What's your laws say about contracts? Surely if they had a contract, they'd need to pay until the end of the contract, no?
What happens if I dont pay my rent in Canada?
Files a lawsuit based on what? The only thing he could possibly sue for would be if Ontario doesn't pay whatever penalty clauses are in that contract.
Files a lawsuit based on what?
Based on the principles of SLAPP
Its a threat intended to intimidate the other party into backing down.
And because the world doesn’t make sense, TSLA stocks are up while the rest goes in the red.
That makes perfect sense. Musk's companies are going to be swimming in free money, with lucrative US Federal government contracts
On my watchlist, Tesla has the 3rd largest daily % drop right now.
They will come down with a crash, I just know it. Just give it time...
Ford is turning into a Canadian conservative which is great to see.
Too bad the Federal leadership is Pierre Pouilivre who is trying his best to imitate Trump and US style politics, a culture war to divide us NOT conservative policies and helping people...
Maybe this will wake up Canadian Conservatives to how toxic their party has become....
Ford is still an idiot he's just a Canadian idiot first.
It’s just for election season
He called one so suddenly so he can be like this for as little as possible
There’s a reason PP is being so quiet
GOOD
Nice.
