Canadian province cancels contract with Musk's Starlink: 'We will not do business with people who want to destroy our economy'

(Patria) - The leader of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, announced the cancellation of a contract with Starlink in response to the U.S. imposition of comprehensive tariffs on Canada.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who said he is also banning provincial bodies from signing contracts with American companies, signed a 100 million Canadian dollar (68 million U.S. dollar) deal with Musk's Starlink in November.

The contract was for providing high-speed internet to residents of remote, rural and northern Ontario.

"We are tearing up the contract with Starlink. Ontario will not do business with people who want to destroy our economy," Ford stated in a post on X.

Ford announced that U.S.-based companies will lose "tens of billions of dollars" in revenue as a result of Ontario's response.

"I can only blame President Trump," Ford stated.

Starting today and until U.S. tariffs are removed, Ontario is banning American companies from provincial contracts.

Every year, the Ontario government and its agencies spend $30 billion on procurement, alongside our $200 billion plan to build Ontario. U.S.-based businesses will…

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) February 3, 2025

Ontario and other provinces have already removed or plan to remove American alcohol brands from store shelves.

"Canada did not start this fight with the U.S., but believe that we are ready to win," Ford emphasized, who called an election for his province last week.

Canada and Mexico have ordered retaliatory tariffs on American goods in response to the comprehensive tariffs imposed by Trump.

Trump responded on Sunday, criticizing Canada's trade surplus with the United States and claiming that without that surplus, "Canada ceases to exist as a viable country."

"Harsh but true! Therefore, Canada should become our 51st state. Much lower taxes and far better military protection for the people of Canada - and no tariffs," Trump stated.