After taking part in the opening ceremony for the 101st International Plowing Match, Premier Doug Ford used the platform to talk about several things, including his pending trip to Washington.
Ford and Economic Development Minister Jim Wilson will meet Wednesday with federal officials carrying out trade negotiations in the U.S. capital, and also plan to meet with the Canadian Ambassador to the United States.
In Pain Court Tuesday afternoon, Ford has one message for the Prime Minister.
"Don't compromise because we have to protect the farmers and the auto workers, we have to protect everyone in Ontario," says Ford. "There's $389-billion of trade going back and forth between ourselves and our U.S. counterparts and we're two incredible countries and we should have free trade."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks at the International Plowing Match, Pain Court, September 18, 2018. (Photo by AM800's Peter Langille)
He says his job is to protect Ontario jobs in all sectors.
"In our case it's agriculture, automotive and steel and aluminium and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I protect those sectors and have a good conversation."
Ontario is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Federal Government to get the deal done, according to Ford, who says "I know the Federal Government wants a deal done, I know the U.S. Government wants it done — but sometimes when you're negotiating a tough deal it takes a little longer, but I'm confident we'll get this past the finish line."
The premier also touched on a plan to expand access to natural gas for families and business throughout rural and Northern Ontario, as well as his Progressive Conservatives work to pass a bill that would cut the size of Toronto city council in the middle of an election campaign.
— with files from AM800's Peter Langille and The Canadian Press