Pipelines MOU Adds a Crucial Partner

Danielle Smith: Oil and gas pipelines and expanding trade corridors to global markets. This agreement, we’ll see our three provinces, advance pipelines and pathways to boost exports of homegrown energy potash. Critical minerals and agricultural products to markets across Canada and across the world. And when it comes to advancing these goals, it’s undeniable that there is strength in numbers.

Together we’re taking an unprecedented step to further unify our efforts to get shovels in the ground on major projects across industries with, uh, one ultimate outcome in mind. Connecting our world class resources and value added products to Canada’s growing list of customers. Our three provinces will also continue our joint calls for the removal of federal barriers to nation building projects, so we can collectively advance pipelines, rails, transmission, infrastructure, and other major projects.

We know their strength in taking a united front, but we cannot achieve our shared provincial goals without cooperation from the federal government. Alberta knows this. Saskatchewan knows this. Ontario knows this, and it’s time for the federal government to acknowledge it as well. And if Prime Minister Mark Carney doesn’t wanna work with us, it’s not just myself and Scott Mo, he’ll have to worry about, he’ll also have to contend with Premier Doug Ford, who has said many times he’ll be all over him, like an 800 pound gorilla.

So it’s time to get rid of the bad laws that have harmed Canada’s ability to grow the energy sector and other industries such as mining and. Factor by now, you should all know these bad laws that I speak of quite well, bill C 69, the oil and gas emissions cap, the tanker ban, the net zero vehicle and net zero electricity mandates.

Removing these anti resource, anti-development laws will allow Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario to attract the investment in project partners. We need to get shovels in the ground. Grow industries and create jobs. So I’m excited to continue collaborating so that we can reach our shared goals, including to advance pipelines and responsible energy development.

This new way of working together across provincial borders will benefit the people of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, and ultimately all people across Canada. And I’m hopeful that today’s momentum continues to build and leads, leads to even more provinces and territories joining us. Thank you. And I’ll, I’ll hand it over to Premier Scott Mo.

Scott Moe: I would just say thank you, uh, to Danielle and I could really just say ditto and sit down and that, uh, might be, uh. You know, is about as strong a statement as, as I could make. But, uh, but also thank you to Premier Ford, uh, for hosting us here in, uh, in Ontario as we, uh, find our way through our Council of Federation meeting.

Uh, this year, I think an important, uh, year for, uh, the Council of Federation to come together, along with Prime Minister Kearney, uh, later today. Um. And I’m pleased to join, uh, in signing, uh, this memorandum of understanding for far too long. Uh, as Premier Smith has said, uh, Canada’s energy, our critical, uh, mineral sector, uh, whether it be our oil and gas sector, uh, all of, uh, our exporting industries have faced far too many bottlenecks in not only their production, but in limiting our ability to provide those products to nations around the world.

Um, and it is us coming together as provinces and we would very much hope, uh, to work alongside the, the, uh, prime Minister Kearney and his government, uh, in changing that, uh, and enhancing, uh, Canada’s opportunity to not only become, uh, the strongest economy in the G seven, um, but ensuring that we can achieve the aspirational goals that Prime Minister Kearney has put forward of becoming a global energy superpower.

Uh, in order to do that, uh, there we are going to have to make changes, uh, in the development of policies, uh, that we have in Canada. And Premier Smith had named a number of them. Why does this matter to a province of Saskatchewan and why does this agreement, uh, building on many other agreements, whether they be on, uh, free and fair interprovincial trade, or whether they be on accessing all ports, uh, that we have available to us in Canada?

Um, why is this important? Uh, it’s important in Saskatchewan because we do, uh, produce, uh, a number of products, uh, potash oil and gas, agricultural products, of course, uranium, uh, but also now moving into additional copper helium, uh, lithium, uh, and rare earth elements and many other, uh, products as well that are going to need access to even more countries around the world.

More export options. More export options so that we can find these products, can find their way to those countries around the world so that we can be part of their food security, part of their energy security. Um, yes, Canada can be part of global manufacturing security, um, and ultimately providing Canadians with economic security, which is, uh, the goal.

Uh, most certainly and has been the goal of our government for some period of time. And so any and all options, uh, when it comes to how do we provide the world with these opportunities, uh, are very much supported, uh, by our, by our province in Saskatchewan. And I thank, uh, both, uh, premier Smith of Alberta.

And Premier Ford of Ontario, uh, for moving yet another positive step and a positive initiative forward, uh, in us finding a way not only to produce more of the products that are providing that energy, food, and manufacturing security for Canadians, for North Americans, and for other global countries, but for finding, uh, additional ways for us to, uh, provide, uh, that global energy, food, and manufacturing security to the world.

Thank you both and I’m pleased to sign this, uh, supportive document today. That’s great.

Doug Ford: Well, good morning everyone, and, uh, such a pleasure to be joined by my good friends, uh, premier Scott Mo and Premier Danielle Smith. This is an amazing day for our province and for our entire country because when Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan come together, we’re not just signing a piece of paper, we’re sending a clear message.

Canada is ready to build and we’re going to get it done as one team Canada for too long. We’ve seen projects after project get tied up in red tape regulation, delayed, blocked, and then canceled. But today the world needs what Canada has. It’s time to think big. It’s time to bring our critical minerals, our oil.

Our natural gas and energy. To new markets across the globe. It started earlier this month when I visited Premier Smith during the Calgary Stampede and what a great host, uh, premier Smith was. And boy, you had quite the party. Is the party still going on? We, we signed an agreement. The work hand in hand. To build new energy and trade infrastructure.

And today, Saskatchewan is stepping up. Premier Mo has offered his full support and that’s a game changer. Let me tell you our plan. This new agreement will halt move Western oil and gas to new and existing refineries in Southern Ontario and to Northern Tide water with Deep Sea Port in James Bay. It will connect Ontario’s critical minerals in the Ring of Fire region to new ports in Western Canada, helping to build a true end-to-end critical mineral supply chain.

All of it will be built using Great Ontario made and Saskatchewan made steel, creating jobs, attracting investment, and unlocking the full potential of our economy and all of it. Will be done in partnership with indigenous communities. Canada’s premiers are stepping up now. We need the federal government to do its part.

We need the federal government to fix its broken regulatory environment. And streamline approvals. And I agree 100% without listing ’em all. We’re all in agreement. What Premier Smith said, if we don’t get rid of these, these uh, regulations, uh, things won’t fly. But we need to do that and, and hopefully we will, uh, convince the Prime Minister to do the same thing.

There’s no more time to waste. We’re focused on a future for all Canadians. Where we stand united, take control of our own destiny and build prosperity the likes of which we’ve never seen before. I want to thank both premiers for coming here to Huntsville and signing this agreement and make God bless the people of Canada.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah.

News Reporter: So he has a whole system where you sort start writing and then you look, take a picture. Ready? Ready. Okay. Here we go. Okay. Everybody looking. That’s great. Thank you. It’s perfect.

Guys,

Doug Ford: thank you.

Perfect. Thank you.

Program management: Yeah. We’ll now take, start taking questions from the media as a friendly reminder. The format today will be one question. Please state your name and your outlet before your question. Can move up to the podium. Yep.

Yes.

Danielle Smith: Oh, hello. I’m standing in your spot. You can go to the mic

Peter Zaman: premiers. Peter Zaman from CBC News. Um, this is a question for all of you. Mm-hmm. Um, you’ve spoken a lot about using, um, getting our resources to other markets. Uh, but as Daniel Smith pointed out, um, our oil currently runs through the United States to Ontario.

Michigan threatened to cut that off a couple years ago. Trump could cut it off for political reasons. Do we need to build a pipeline from Alberta to Ontario on Canadian soil regardless of whether there’s a proponent or not for national security reasons?

Doug Ford: Well, I, I believe so. Uh, my good friend, the governor of Michigan, she.

Known her from day one, constantly threatens to cut off line five. That would basically shut down our airport. Shut down a big part of, uh, of Ontario and we can’t chance it any longer. We need to be independent. We need a pipeline, uh, going to Southwestern Ontario, uh, to one of the refineries and be self-reliant.

We can’t rely on the Americans anymore. As simple as that. I love the Americans, by the way. I love the people. Um. Love the elected officials except one. And, uh, that’s, that’s it. So yes, we, we have, we have to start diversifying our trade around the, the globe and, uh, as Premier Smith and Premier Mo. Uh, said, we, we have to be leaders in the G seven when it comes to our economy, and we need to unleash every tool in our Canadian toolbox and, uh, tell the world that Canada’s open for business.

We need to cut the red tape regulations and regulatory burden that we’re, we’re facing. And I’m confident working with the, uh, federal government and the Prime Minister. Uh, we’ll do exactly that. I’ll pass it over to the other premiers. Yeah,

Scott Moe: I, I would just, uh, say very quickly, uh, there’s really two conversations there and you’ve hit at the, the, the continental or Canadian energy security one, uh, is the second one.

First is a, is an oil producing region. Um, and, you know, providing oil. Highest price possible. Uh, the number one priority economically is for us in Western Canada to have access to, uh, the northwest coast. Uh, that will shrink the differential, that will provide additional egress capacity into the us. Some of that does come yes, back up into Canada, uh, but to the oil industry, uh, from a economic perspective, that is the priority as a Canadian.

Uh, and as, uh, ensuring and valuing and wanting and desiring us to have Canadian energy security and to yes, be part of a North American, uh, energy security plant. Uh, but as a Canadian and valuing our Canadian energy security, uh, we certainly, uh, need to have Canadian access through line, uh, to the refineries in Eastern Canada.

And I think that would be important to those that live in Central and Eastern Canada as well. Uh, so that we have that energy security as a country. And I would just point out. And Premier Smith will have, uh, much more to say on this as the, uh, largest, uh, oil producing, uh, province in Canada by. A, a great, uh, a great margin.

Um, I would point out the, the, the comparison of what happened most recently in Eastern Europe, uh, when European countries, uh, learned, uh, that they have been entirely reliant, uh, for a significant amount of their, their energy security on Russia. Uh, not a country that, that today they want to be reliant on for that energy security and are looking to other options, uh, around the world, including, uh, uranium from Saskatchewan and Nuclear React reactors, uh, from North America.

Uh, we shouldn’t allow that to happen to us, uh, as Canadians to be reliant on another country, whether it be for the production of our energy or whether it be for accessing that energy through, uh, rail lines, pipelines. Um, nor should we, uh, in any way be reliant on, um. Uh, foreign ports, uh, for us, uh, to, uh, provide that energy security, uh, and that opportunity to the world as well.

Um, so yes, uh, I think, uh, as Canadians, uh, we most certainly need to have a very mature discussion about how we can provide, uh, Western Canadian oil and gas, uh, to Canadians that live in central and eastern Canada for our own good, uh, looking forward, uh, generations and for our own, not only economic security, but ultimately our general security and our energy security, uh, moving forward.

Danielle Smith: I’ve said that I’m supportive of pipelines northeast and west. I’d like to see all of them built. Uh, to Scott’s point, clearly if we’re opening up new markets, our best opportunity is to build a pipeline to the Northwest BC coast in order to access the Asian markets. But, uh, it, it should give us pause that we, um, in Eastern Canada are overly reliant.

On oil that either has to come by way of the United States or has to be shipped in from overseas. And so, uh, we could have, uh, addressed that years ago with the Energy East Pipeline. Energy East is now no longer an option that’s available to us because those pipelines are now full of gas. But if we can begin by creating a.

A pipeline option that will at least help us to get to Ontario so that we can satisfy the needs of this market. I think that that’ll give energy security to the country, and that’s probably something that’s long overdue. We, we probably should have done it decades ago, but, um, uh, we didn’t do it decades ago, but now we can do it now, and I hope, uh, we’ll be able to do that.

Kate McKenna: Good morning premiers. Kate McKenna from CBC. This, this too is for all of you. I’m wondering what you heard from Mark Carney last night and what you hope to hear from him today. What I’ve

Danielle Smith: heard consistently from Mark Carney. Is that he wants Canada to have energy dominance and be an energy superpower, and that he wants us to diversify our markets, uh, starting with.

Uh, doing more trade with each other. That’s what the MOU is about today, is how can we find a way to support each other and then in addition to that, find a way to, to, to get to new markets. That’s the, the only way I think that Canada will be able to have the, the security, the energy security we’re looking for, and it’s not just energy.

Once we have those. Roots that are established and we can build out rail line import infrastructure that’s great for food, export for fiber, export, for manufactured goods, export. So those are the things that I, I think that, uh, the provinces are taking the leadership on. And I, I’ve, everything I’ve heard from Mark Carney seems to suggest he’s supportive of that.

Uh, he would demonstrate his, uh, his great support if he would repeal or substantially revise the nine bad laws. That are, IM impacting our investment climate. He hasn’t done that yet, but as I’ve said, we’re, uh, giving him some time to get into the role. He’s got a new legislative session starting up in September, and we’ll have a, a better idea of, of what kind of revisions he’s going to make then.

Doug Ford: Well, I know, uh, prime Minister Carney, he wants to be one of the strongest economies in the G seven, which we’re confident we can do. But as, uh, premier Smith said, we have to get, uh, rid of the regulatory burdens. That’s what’s holding us back. And one way, uh, do that we can unleash the economic powerhouse.

Canada truly is diversify our trade, uh, build pipelines, west, east, south, north. And, uh, get critical minerals outta the ground. Not in 15 years, but within two, two years, get permitting happening a lot quicker. Uh, that’s, that’s what’s gonna, uh, make sure that we’re an economic power host, build large infrastructure projects across the, the country as well.

But we’ll have a further discussion with Prime Minister Kearney today, and, uh, we’ll get into it a little deeper, uh, at the table.

Scott Moe: And I would, uh, just focus in on three points, uh, with the prime Minister of which, uh, I think he is. Uh, you know, off to a good start, uh, with respect to first is, uh, the re regulatory process at both the Premier Smith and Premier Ford.

I mentioned his flawed in, in, in Canada. Uh, and I think that is recognized, uh, by, uh, most members at the federal level as, uh, they passed C five, which is essentially a, a piece of legislation that is there to, uh, to circumvent a lot of the timeframes that are involved in the uncertainty, uh, that are involved in the current regulatory process that we have.

And it’s important for us, uh, to work alongside the federal government. Its provinces, uh, to actually correct the root of the problem, which is the multi-layered, um, well, nine, uh, bad laws as Premier Smith has mentioned, but many others. Those are the nine, uh. Priority, uh, pieces of, of legislation regulation that need to be changed.

Second is what we’re discussing here today is, you know, how do we increase, uh, port access and access to the world, uh, for Canadian products and, uh, and we’re supportive of any and all, uh, additional port capacity that we can, uh, that we can find and work together on, uh, on expediting, uh, in Canada. And then last but not least, is market access.

And in a world where. You know, there’s much talk about, uh, tariffs and much talk about, uh, counter tariffs, uh, not just with the US but with other countries. China is a one of note for, uh, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and, and Ontario products as well, uh, in the, uh, in the agricultural sphere. Uh, prime Minister Carney has been, you know, I, I think as, uh, as engaging as, as, as we could hope, uh, certainly, uh, is engaging with.

The president, I would say, to a higher level than what we saw a number of months ago. Uh, and also, uh, with the conversations that, that I’ve had with Prime Minister Kearney with respect to, uh, some of the counter tariffs from, from, uh, China, uh, as, uh, as a result of us as Canadians aligning with US trade policy when it comes to approaching, uh, China, uh, there is a, a price to pay for that.

And, and all too often that lands on, uh, Saskatchewan and, and Canadian agricultural, uh. Products, uh, but Prime Minister Kearney has been very, uh, engaging in reaching out and, uh, starting that conversation with China on how do we move forward? Not only, uh, when it comes to canola tariffs and pulse tariffs, pork tariffs and seafood tariffs, but more broadly, uh, in our, our, our trade, uh, conversation with a country like China and.

If we are going to, uh, in any way as we produce more and make it a available to the world, uh, diversify in any way that additional product, uh, production away from, from the us. Uh, we are going to have to deal with growing markets like China, uh, like India, uh, and other markets around the world.

Mickey: Hi, Mickey here with um, Politico. This question is for Smith and Ford. Um, I was speaking with John Ka, um, regarding the ostrich situation in bc. He had a meeting yesterday with RFK Junior and Dr. Oz on this matter. Um, he essentially wants the PM to intervene in the case, and he said that he’s spoken to both of you on this issue as well.

Will you be applying pressure to the PM on this? And do either of you have any issues or any concerns about the federal government’s treatment of farmers, particularly in this case?

Danielle Smith: Well, I have asked my agriculture minister to look into it to see if we had a similar situation in Alberta. What would we be able to do differently?

And um, one of the things that I, I think is worth looking at is when Avian flu went through that herd, it did kill 20% of them. But it didn’t kill 80% of them. So maybe there is something to learn from, whether there’s a, an immunity or some kind of vaccine that could be developed as a result of having, um, that flock survive.

I think that, um, maybe we have to think about different ways to, to do, um, animal. Um, husbandry and animal safety and why not try a different approach? So I, I’m open-minded to see if, uh, if there’s any, uh, persuasion on that. I, I gather that the US government is interested in partnering with BC if they wanted to do that.

I’d be supportive of that because I, you can see that this, uh, case has really taken on, um, a lot of, um, a public sentiment behind it. And if we can find a better way than doing mass coals in any situation like this, I think it’s probably worth it to try to find a better way to do it. I don’t know if you’ve got a thought.

Doug Ford: Yeah, no, I’ve, I’ve talked to John many times about these, uh, ostriches. I’m an animal lover, full disclosure, and I wanna do everything I can, I can to help him. Um, I think he had a plan to bring him down to Florida as well, and to a sanctuary down there. So anything John needs, uh, I’m always there to, to support him.

He’s a good man. He cares for animals, and, uh, he puts his money where his mouth is too, when it comes to, uh, making sure that he protects, uh, all animals. So. Thank you.

Michael Sarabi: Hi there. Uh, Michael Sarabi with cpac. Uh, the question is actually for you, premier Ford. Uh, and I appreciate today’s announcement has to do with pipelines and energy corridors. Yes. But given that amongst the regulations being pointed out is the EV mandate, what does today’s announcement, how does that affect your past enthusiasm to develop battery plants in Ontario as well as have EVs, uh, manufactured in Ontario?

Doug Ford: Well, I always believe in a big proponent of the, the market dictates, uh, the market will dictate not governments will dictate. Uh, we have to get rid of these, uh, mandates that companies won’t be able to meet their targets. Um, and let’s, let’s continue investing. I’m, I’m confident that, uh, eventually, uh, the EV sector, per se, uh, will, will continue growing.

But right now. Uh, the people are gonna decide, but let’s not slow down on, on building the, the battery plants and any other EV plants, but who knows us the best, but the auto sector. And they’ll, they’ll determine that, but we’re gonna continue investing in the, in the market itself. Yeah,

Danielle Smith: I’ll just, I’ll just add a couple things.

Uh, I think Doug produces 1.2 million cars and can Canadians buy about 1.2 million cars? So we’ve, as a province, taken the leadership and saying, we’re going to prioritize fleet vehicles. That are made and finished in Ontario and there’s some great options. There’s light duty vehicles, heavy duty vehicles, there’s hybrid vehicles.

And so, uh, we would hope that others would look at it in the, in the same way that if the Americans are going to take a hostile approach. I guess our auto industry, I think it’s up to us to, to be supportive when it comes to electric vehicles. We only have a very small percentage of electric vehicles that have been purchased in Alberta, and as I mentioned, if we were to, to try to meet the mandate in Alberta alone, we’d have to buy all of the low emissions vehicles currently being produced in Ontario, which is impossible for the entire country to achieve, which means.

The, this policy is forcing us to look outside of supporting for Ontario in order to be able to achieve it. And I guess the last thing I’d say is that, um, we, we think that, uh, we’re trying to build our hydrogen economy in Alberta. We’ve bought, uh, the, uh, Edmonton International Airport bought a hundred.

Toyota Mirror eyes, uh, which are, is the passenger vehicle. We’re doing a dual fuel ex, um, uh, pilot with the trucking industry. Uh, CP is building hydrogen locomotives in our province. We have, uh, hydrogen for home heating, hydrogen as well, but we’re looking for electricity. But I would love to see the Ontario manufacturers figure out a way that we could perhaps have an hydrogen combustion engine.

I know Toyota is made here. And then that may be a way for us to reach zero emissions targets a different way. I think. I think that we have to allow the market and innovators to be able to meet the needs of, of each individual marketplace. And so I’m hoping we can have a really constructive conversation with Ontario about that.

Now I’ve begun it as well with, uh, with individuals with Toyota who’ve been, who’ve been in our province and, and, and so let’s just have a little more latitude to allow for the market to work and innovation to work. That’s what I would say, and I think we can all benefit from that.

Scott Moe: I, I maybe speak a little bit on that, uh, as Doug said, or Premier Ford, pardon me, uh, said the, uh, you know, the market will drive this, and I, I think we’re seeing that.

As well. And, and, um, we shouldn’t forget about just how integrated our, our economy is, uh, in inter provincially, um, but also across North America. And this is maybe, uh, something for us to remember as we, uh, engage with, uh, the, the Trump administration and the current US administration. But we are very, very integrated.

And we’re integrated for a reason, because it’s the most efficient to produce things. We had a steak yesterday. Um, like that animal is likely born in Saskatchewan, finished in Alberta, and is now sold by an Ontario grocer out here. Uh, that, that’s how we integrated our, our Canadian economy is on every front.

Um, when it comes to, uh, manufacturing, uh, whether it be e vehicles, gas powered vehicles, whatever that is, uh, you’re gonna see that largely happening in Ontario from a Canadian perspective. Um. But as we move to EVs, uh, there is also further integration that is occurring there. There’s rare earths, uh, uh, critical minerals that are going to come from Quebec.

Uh, the Ring of Fire in Ontario, but also from Western Canada as well. We’ve opened a, uh, processing facility for rare earths, of which there’s, uh, much interest around the world that would ultimately. In the future, build the battery elements for, uh, just such vehicles as the market determines, uh, the, the out build of that.

And so, you know, I, I think, uh, often we get, um, you know, thoughts that, you know, this is largely an impact only to Ontario. Um, but we are so very integrated across our provinces, whether it’s in our food production, whether it’s in our energy. Security and, and what we provide to other Canadians, which was in a former question.

Um, or, or more generally in our, our economy. Uh, when, when decision is made in one part of the country, it often has a ripple effect in other areas, whether we recognize it or not.

Clark Hepo: Uh, Clark Hepo from New York TV Coach Go News in North Bay. My question is for Premier Doug Ford. Uh, can you be more specific regarding regulatory burdens and bad laws that you’re referring to that you want changed at the federal level?

Doug Ford: Well, I’m gonna hand it over to Danielle. She has it memorized. I don’t have it memorized, so let it roll, Danielle.

Danielle Smith: Sure. Happy to go. Happy to go through them. Um, I’ve got a, I’ve got a little cheat sheet right here in my, in my notes so that, uh, I always have them on hand. So first of all, C 69, we call that the no more pipeline bill that that needs to obviously have.

Some substantial rewrite, and I think that that’s what the two year to Yes, policy recognizes is that has been a barrier to getting big projects built. That’s one the emissions cap. You can’t, we’re not gonna be able to fill a new pipeline if we’re capping emissions, which means capping production. The if with the aggressive targets, we would have to curtail production, 2 million barrels a day by 2030.

That’s gotta go, uh, carbon pricing. We want that to stay provincial. We have a $95 carbon price. Other provinces have made different choices, uh, for different reasons. But we want that to be a provincial. We don’t want them to take over carbon pricing, the clean electricity regs. I can tell you we have 17,000 megawatts of demand for EI data centers in our province.

The only way we’re gonna build them is if we can build natural gas power plants. That won’t happen if, uh, if officials or if, uh, a company executives are gonna go to jail in 2035 for not having met emissions reduction targets that are overly aggressive. Tanker ba again, if you can’t, uh, put something on a ship.

There’s no point in building a pipeline to the coast, so that’s gotta go. Uh, the declaration of plastics is toxic. We have an integrated market back and forth between the US and Canada on plastics. If you’re having to handle it like it’s hazardous material, adds a bunch, a bunch of additional regulation.

Plus the federal government’s partnered with us on a net zero, uh, petrochemical plant in on, in Alberta. So it’s chaotic policy to support and subsidize on the one hand and then try to ban it on the other. Net zero vehicle mandate, we’ve discussed that. And then censorship of, uh, bill C 59, uh, what we’re hearing.

I mean, if an industry is not able to talk about their genuine emissions reductions efforts without facing criminal charges for greenwashing, uh, then then we’re, we’re kind of missing the point of the exercise. And the last one is, we don’t wanna see export taxes on energy or export restrictions for the reasons that we’ve been talking about as well, that the Americans have a bigger hammer.

If they cut off Bill, uh, line five, not only does that harm Ontario, it also harms Quebec. And so we do need to find other routes. But in the meantime, we, we shouldn’t be talking about, uh, about energy, uh, restrictions because I think there’s that it would have a devastating impact on Alberta. So those are on Canada.

Those are the nine.

Doug Ford: What I did, uh, would recommend to the federal government and I have mentioned it, uh, create a Ministry of Red Tape and regulations. We did that and we saved through sectors coming to us about unnecessary, uh, regulations that are duplicated between the provinces and the federal government.

We found over $1.1 billion of, uh, savings and over a million, uh, people working hours. So that, that’s a big. That’s a big chunk.

News Reporter: Okay. Premier Ford. Stay there. Yeah. Okay. Rob. Rob Ferguson, Toronto Star. Uh, I saw you nodding when Premier Smiths was saying No export taxes. So does this mean that your, uh, that electricity surtax you, uh, had briefly imposed that idea is completely dead.

And what’s your new bottom line now that. Um, it, it, it appears, uh, apparent that it’s gonna be impossible to avoid some tariffs.

Doug Ford: Well, everything’s on the table. I, I like agreeing with, uh. Premier Smith. We’re like-minded. All three of us are, are like-minded. And, uh, so when I’m nodding my head, I’m, I’m agreeing.

But on the export, uh, tax on electricity, everything’s on the table. And we’ll see how this, uh, deal goes and we’ll see what he has to say on August the first. Most importantly, we have to stay united. And, uh, just strengthening our trade with other countries right around the world. I think we have, there’s a 51 57 tar free agreements, uh, with other countries.

We gotta take advantage of that and, and look at, uh, other markets. So that’s, that’s what we’re gonna, uh, do. And I also agree with the premier, uh, Mo. Uh, let’s look at other markets, uh, big markets out there that can compete against, uh, the us but again. Uh, wouldn’t it be great if we can just have a fair and free trade deal with the United States and keep moving forward?

I always mention, we, we buy more Pro Canada buys more products off the US than China, Japan, Korea, uk and, and France combined. So we don’t need to take a back seat to anyone and we sure the heck don’t have to take a backseat to President Trump.

News Reporter: Thank

Doug Ford: you.

News Reporter: You can, you can just stay there again, premier.

Okay. Thank you. Uh, Jack Howen from the Trillium.

Doug Ford: Hi Jack.

News Reporter: Yesterday after the, uh, after the meeting with the indigenous leaders, you said, uh, you can’t move forward without their collaboration and their buy-in?

Doug Ford: Yes,

News Reporter: and I can’t do something if they don’t want to do it. Grant chief, uh, Alvin Fiddler said he hoped we were recording those comments, uh, and we were, because some might take that as granting First Nations veto power over projects.

So I guess my question is, how much did you mean that I

Doug Ford: just want work in collaboration, what we’re trying to do, and they, they, they know this, that we’re trying to make their lives better. We’re trying to make their kids and their grandchildren’s lives better. No one has treated them better. No one’s ever put $3 billion in the window, uh, to, to say, here, let, let’s, let’s be part of this deal.

And, uh, $70 million of training, $10 million of scholarships. We’re, we’re, we’re working all together. And, uh, you know, I’ve, I’ve known Alvin from, from day one. He, he’s, he’s, he’s a good person. But, uh, I can assure you. I’m getting endless calls from chiefs from around the province saying, I want to be part of this.

I want to be part of the economic, uh, zones. And those who want it, we’re gonna work with ’em. Those who don’t, well, they’re gonna lose out. Simple as that. Oh, you can’t, I can’t force anyone to come to the table.

Isaac Callan: Isaac Callan Global News. You can stay there again, premier. Thank you. Um, on Quebec, both on this MOU and on the Interprovincial trade.

Is Quebec on board with what you want to do with pipelines and what’s taking so long in terms of getting Fran go to sign up to an interprovincial trade, MOU with Ontario? What’s the barrier?

Doug Ford: Well, we’ve, we’ve had the opportunity to sign 10 MOUs with the territories and, uh, and all the provinces to the exception at Quebec and, uh, Newfoundland.

But I, I think we’ll get there. Uh. Reno, premier Lago is a very bright, uh, business minded person, and, you know, we’ll, we’ll get there. He’s, uh, they’re unique, but we’ll, we’ll get around to getting it done. I love him. I do. But yeah, that’s important. But I, I think, uh, we’ll, we will have a chat with ’em, all three of us.

We’ll see what happens. All it does is benefit, uh, Quebecers, that’s what it does. It brings jobs and opportunities to ’em. So that’s a good thing.

Program management: This will be the last question.

News Reporter: Hello, Laura Stone Globe and Mail Premier Smith. I wanna ask again about this online campaign targeting one of our reporters. You said yesterday that you don’t know David Wallace, but your official ex account has watched his videos before.

So, um. Has anyone in your government ever used his services and how did you come to know him?

Danielle Smith: Uh, we’re in Ontario to work on some pretty important issues like the threat of tariffs and, uh, we met with the nurses this morning. We met with the First Nations yesterday, and we’re talking with the Prime Minister about how we’re going to get national projects built.

I’ve given you a statement. I did an interview with CTV. I’d direct you to that. I have no further comment on it. That

Program management: concludes our press conference. Thank you very

Doug Ford: much. Thanks everyone.

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